title: Methadone toxicity in infants: a report of two fatalities.
abstract: Fatalities in infants resulting from methadone toxicity are rare within the United Kingdom. We report two cases of fatality attributed to methadone toxicity in infants aged 3(1/2) and 15 months of age, respectively. One of the two cases was also associated with diazepam ingestion. We discuss the difficulties with the interpretation of paediatric forensic toxicology and review the current literature related to methadone and diazepam toxicity in infants and older children.
authors.affiliation: Warwick Medical School, University of Warwick, Coventry CV4 7AL, UK.
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Mistry
authors.forename: A J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Jeffery
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Madira
authors.forename: C J H
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Padfield
authors.forename: G N
authors.initials: GN
authors.lastname: Rutty
mesh_terms: D001202:Ascitic Fluid / Q000473:pathology; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D049429:Forensic Pathology; D053593:Forensic Toxicology; D005766:Gastrointestinal Contents / Q000737:chemistry; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008168:Lung / Q000473:pathology; D017563:Lung Diseases, Interstitial / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008691:Methadone / Q000032:analysis / Q000506:poisoning*; D009294:Narcotics / Q000032:analysis / Q000506:poisoning*; D011693:Purpura / Q000473:pathology; D053719:Tandem Mass Spectrometry
chemical_list: D009294:Narcotics; D008691:Methadone