Death of a child from topical diphenhydramine.
Diphenhydramine is a drug readily available over the counter in the form of capsules, tablets, and syrup used for allergy relief. A topical form is sold as a cream without a prescription to alleviate itching. Diphenhydramine is a drug commonly found in postmortem toxicology reports. In rare instances, death is attributed to ingestion of lethal concentrations of the drug. Herein is a report of a toddler who died of lethal concentrations of diphenhydramine from topical application.
Turner
Jane Willman
JW
Department of Pathology, St. Louis University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri 63104, USA. turnerjw@SLU.edu
D000287:Administration, Topical; D001929:Brain Edema / Q000473:pathology; D004155:Diphenhydramine / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000032:analysis / Q000506:poisoning*; D004485:Eczema / Q000188:drug therapy; D049429:Forensic Pathology; D053593:Forensic Toxicology; D006470:Hemorrhage / Q000473:pathology; D006634:Histamine H1 Antagonists / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000032:analysis / Q000506:poisoning*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008099:Liver / Q000737:chemistry; D008168:Lung / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D009206:Myocardium / Q000473:pathology; D011654:Pulmonary Edema / Q000473:pathology; D013950:Thymus Gland / Q000473:pathology
D006634:Histamine H1 Antagonists; D004155:Diphenhydramine