title: Respiratory depression in a child unintentionally exposed to transdermal fentanyl patch.
abstract: A 2-year-old boy was found unresponsive after sleeping in bed with his grandmother. After the patient was intubated and ventilated, paramedics discovered a transdermal fentanyl patch on the victim's back. Removal of the patch and treatment with naloxone resolved symptoms. This is the first reported case of secondary exposure to a fentanyl patch causing clinically significant respiratory depression in the pediatric population, and it emphasizes a new hazard of such drug use.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, University of Alabama School of Medicine, Birmingham, USA.
authors.forename: W E
authors.initials: WE
authors.lastname: Hardwick
authors.forename: W D
authors.initials: WD
authors.lastname: King
authors.forename: P A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Palmisano
mesh_terms: D000279:Administration, Cutaneous; D000701:Analgesics, Opioid / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004781:Environmental Exposure; D005283:Fentanyl / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D007275:Injections, Intravenous; D007442:Intubation, Intratracheal; D008297:Male; D009270:Naloxone / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D009292:Narcotic Antagonists / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010100:Oxygen / Q000097:blood; D012119:Respiration / Q000187:drug effects; D012121:Respiration, Artificial; D012131:Respiratory Insufficiency / Q000139:chemically induced*; D012890:Sleep
chemical_list: D000701:Analgesics, Opioid; D009292:Narcotic Antagonists; D009270:Naloxone; D010100:Oxygen; D005283:Fentanyl