Methamphetamine-associated pulseless electrical activity in a young child.
Carmelle Tsai1, Maria Quidgley-Martin1, Natalie Laub2
1Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Division of Emergency Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, United States of America.
The American Journal of Emergency Medicine
|July 18, 2020
Summary
A child experienced cardiac arrest and burns after methamphetamine exposure. Initial drug tests were negative, but later analysis confirmed methamphetamine, highlighting challenges in pediatric poisoning diagnosis.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Emergency Medicine
- Toxicology
- Forensic Science
Background:
- Methamphetamine exposure in children is rare but can cause severe toxicity.
- Pulseless electrical activity (PEA) is an uncommon presentation of pediatric poisoning.
- Urine drug screening has limitations in detecting low-level or recent exposures.
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