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Unintentional Cannabis Intoxication in Toddlers
Isabelle Claudet1, Sébastien Mouvier2, Magali Labadie3
1Service d'Accueil des Urgences Pédiatriques, Hôpital des Enfants, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Toulouse and Inserm, UMR 1027, Université Paul Sabatier Toulouse III, Toulouse, France; claudet.i@chu-toulouse.fr.
Pediatrics
|August 16, 2017
Summary
Unintentional pediatric cannabis intoxications in France surged 13-fold from 2004-2014. Younger children experienced more severe outcomes, including comas, highlighting a significant public health concern.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Emergency Medicine
- Toxicology
- Public Health
Background:
- Cannabis consumption is illegal in France, yet its use and tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) concentrations are increasing.
- The health impacts, especially unintentional pediatric intoxications, are poorly documented.
- A national trend analysis of pediatric emergency department admissions for cannabis intoxication was warranted.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the national trend of hospital admissions for unintentional cannabis intoxication in children under 6 years old in France.
- To analyze changes in patient demographics, intoxication severity, and causative agents over an 11-year period (2004-2014).
Main Methods:
- A retrospective, national, multicenter, observational study.
- Inclusion criteria: children under 6 years admitted to a pediatric emergency department (PED) with confirmed cannabis intoxication.
- Data collected on demographics, clinical presentation, and toxicology.
Main Results:
- Annual admissions for pediatric cannabis intoxication increased 13-fold between 2004 and 2014.
- Hashish resin was the primary ingested form (72%).
- Intoxicated children were younger on average, and there was a significant increase in coma occurrences (OR 3.5), potentially linked to higher THC concentrations.
Conclusions:
- Children are increasingly becoming unintentional victims of evolving cannabis use patterns and higher THC concentrations.
- Pediatric cannabis intoxications are more frequent, affect younger children, and result in more severe outcomes.
- These findings underscore a critical public health issue requiring attention and intervention.
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