title: [Poisoning by externally-administered ethanol in an infant].
abstract: The occurrence of unexplained coma in a 15 day-old infant led to suspect an intoxication. Major ethanol poisoning (alcohol blood level: 4.4 g/l) was thus discovered in this child treated with alcohol-containing dressings. Symptomatic treatment alone resulted in favourable evolution of coma in a few hours. Half-life of alcohol was shown to be 17 hours in this child. The interest of the case reported is to remind of the dangers of percutaneous absorption of some products, especially in young infants and the importance of toxicological investigations in children with unusual manifestations of unknown etiology.
mesh_terms: D000435:Alcoholic Intoxication / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis*; D003128:Coma / Q000139:chemically induced*; D000431:Ethanol / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007232:Infant, Newborn, Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced*; D008297:Male; D012869:Skin Absorption
chemical_list: D000431:Ethanol
vernacular_title: Intoxication par l'éthanol administré par voie externe chez le nourrisson.