Methadone intoxication in a child: toxic encephalopathy?
Methadone is used in the treatment of opioid addiction. Acute intoxication can lead to severe consequences and can even be lethal. In several case reports and small series, a presumably toxic leukoencephalopathy is described resulting from inhalation of heroin. We present the case of a 3-year-old boy who ingested methadone accidentally. In a coma with acute obstructive hydrocephalus owing to massive cerebellar edema and supratentorial lesions, he was successfully treated with methylprednisolone and cerebrospinal fluid external drainage. To our knowledge, this is the first report of an encephalopathy associated with synthetic opioid intoxication.
Anselmo
Marisol
M
Intensive Care Unit, Hospital de Dona Estefânia, Lisbon, Portugal.
Campos Rainho
António
A
do Carmo Vale
Maria
M
Estrada
João
J
Valente
Rosalina
R
Correia
Manuela
M
Vieira
José Pedro
JP
Barata
Deolinda
D
D000701:Analgesics, Opioid / Q000506:poisoning*; D001927:Brain Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000473:pathology* / Q000628:therapy; D002675:Child, Preschool; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008691:Methadone / Q000506:poisoning*; D020258:Neurotoxicity Syndromes / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology* / Q000628:therapy
D000701:Analgesics, Opioid; D008691:Methadone