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Nonaccidental poisoning in childhood.
Archives of Disease in Childhood
|February 1, 1979
Summary
A child experienced unexplained loss of consciousness and seizures due to imipramine poisoning administered by his mother. Nonaccidental poisoning should be considered in children with unexplained symptoms.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Toxicology
- Child Abuse and Neglect
Background:
- Recurrent unexplained episodes of unconsciousness, twitching, and apnea in a child warrant thorough investigation.
- Initial diagnostic efforts failed to identify an etiology for the child's severe neurological and cardiac symptoms.
Observation:
- The child presented with recurrent loss of consciousness, hypotension, and ventricular tachycardia.
- Imipramine was detected in stomach washings and blood, confirming poisoning.
Findings:
- The child's mother was administering imipramine to him both at home and during hospitalizations.
- The case highlights the critical need to consider nonaccidental poisoning in pediatric cases with obscure presentations.
Implications:
- This case underscores the importance of considering nonaccidental poisoning in pediatric differential diagnoses.
- The mother's response to psychiatric treatment suggests underlying issues contributing to the poisoning event.