PCP intoxication in young children and infants
Related Experiment Videos
Insights
Pediatric phencyclidine (PCP) intoxication presents with lethargy, strange behavior, and neurological signs. Early diagnosis via urine testing is crucial for prompt treatment and avoiding extensive workups in young children.
Area of Science:
- Toxicology
- Pediatrics
- Emergency Medicine
Background:
- Phencyclidine (PCP) is a dissociative anesthetic with potential for abuse.
- Pediatric intoxication cases are less common but present unique diagnostic and management challenges.
Observation:
- Six recent cases of PCP intoxication in children aged 5 and younger were observed at UCLA Medical Center.
- Ten additional cases from existing literature were reviewed for clinical findings.
Findings:
- Key indicators in young children include rapid onset lethargy/coma, unusual behavior, staring spells, ataxia, and nystagmus.
- Other potential signs encompass opisthotonos, hypertension, tachypnea, miosis, hyperreflexia, hypertonia, and rigidity.
- Urinary PCP detection is the most straightforward diagnostic method.
Implications:
- Prompt diagnosis of PCP intoxication is vital for timely, appropriate treatment and to prevent unnecessary, costly investigations.
- Recognizing PCP toxicity in infants is important, with one case suggesting accidental inhalation from environmental smoke exposure.
- Early identification facilitates essential family evaluations and interventions.
Abstract:
Six cases of PCP intoxication in young children age 5 years and younger seen at UCLA Medical Center recently and 10 other cases from the literature are described and their clinical findings summarized. PCP intoxication should be suspected in young children and infants presenting with rapid onset of lethargy or coma, strange behavior, staring spells, ataxia, and nystagmus. Other findings less frequent but still suspect are opisthotonos, hypertension, tachypnea or hyperpnea, miosis, hyperreflexia, hypertonia, and rigidity. Once suspected, the diagnosis is most easily made by finding PCP in the urine. Proper diagnosis of PCP intoxication is important to ensure that rapid, appropriate treatment is given, costly diagnostic workups are avoided, and family evaluations are instituted. One case strongly suggests that intoxication in infants may result from accidental inhalation when near individuals who are smoking PCP.