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Opium administration to infants in Peshawar region of Pakistan
Insights
Opium use for infant sedation in Pakistan is a serious public health issue. Infant opium overdose led to a 40% mortality rate, highlighting the urgent need for parental education on its dangers.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Pediatrics
- Toxicology
Background:
- Opium administration to infants for sedation is prevalent in Pakistan's North-West Frontier Province.
- This practice poses a significant public health risk, particularly concerning infant mortality.
- Limited data exists on the long-term effects, such as nutritional status or adult addiction.
Purpose of the Study:
- To detail the clinical presentation of infants hospitalized due to opium overdose.
- To underscore the mortality associated with infant opium overdose.
- To advocate for preventive measures and parental education.
Main Methods:
- A retrospective study of 22 infants hospitalized for opium overdose.
- Detailed clinical assessment of the affected infants.
- Analysis of mortality rates despite emergency interventions.
Main Results:
- Opium overdose in infants is a critical issue in the studied region.
- A significant lethality rate of 40% was observed in hospitalized infants.
- Opium overdose was identified as a contributing factor to infant mortality.
Conclusions:
- Infant opium overdose is a preventable cause of mortality.
- Urgent need for public health interventions focused on parental education regarding the dangers of opium.
- Preventive programs are essential to curb this dangerous practice.
Abstract:
Use of opium for sedating infants in the North-West Frontier Province of Pakistan causes a grave public health problem. Among the infants hospitalized for opium overdosage, 22 were studied in detail, and their major clinical picture is presented in this paper. The effect of opium use on the nutritional status of these infants, or the relation of infant opium use to addiction in adult life, have not been assessed. It is, however, pointed out that opium overdosage of infants contributed to infant mortality. Despite emergency treatment, the lethality rate of opium overdosed infants was 40 per cent. It is emphasized that a preventive programme should be undertaken to educate parents who are ignorant of the dangers of opium administration to infants.