Overdose in infant caused by over-the-counter cough medicine.
Each year consumers purchase about 95 million units of over-the-counter medications for pediatric use, an unsafe application that can cause life-threatening effects. Despite a warning from the Food and Drug Administration, many parents or caregivers continue to administer these remedies to children. This report describes the case of a 4-month-old infant presenting to the emergency department with acute life-threatening intoxication including altered mental status, impaired coordination of movements, as well as a positive urine drug test for phencyclidine and an elevated serum ethanol level. Further evaluation uncovered that the actual reason for all clinical symptoms and laboratory test results was over-the-counter cough syrup.
Pugach
Sofya
S
Veteran Affair North Texas Health Care System, Dallas, TX 75216, USA. drpugach@yahoo.com
Pugach
Isaac Z
IZ
D003371:Cough / Q000188:drug therapy*; D003915:Dextromethorphan / Q000506:poisoning*; D062787:Drug Overdose / Q000652:urine*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D004366:Nonprescription Drugs / Q000506:poisoning*
D004366:Nonprescription Drugs; D003915:Dextromethorphan