Research Article
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Fatal heroin and methadone intoxication in a 4-year old child: A case report

Year 2018, Volume: 32 Issue: 3, 126 - 129
https://izlik.org/JA97HP74LT

Abstract

Intoxication cases due to drug abused have been increasing dramatically worldwide. Accidentally exposure to abused drugs also
causes intoxication even death. In this report we describe an autopsy case pertaining to a 4-year old foreign girl who was taken
to hospital for accidental intake of antihypertensive drugs. No
pathological significance was observed except pulmonary edema in histopathological examination. Methadone, heroin, their
metabolites and heroin impurities were found in biological samples with toxicological screening. Antihypertensive drugs were
not detected in the samples. The case declares drug intoxication
due to heroin and methadone intake together. In addition reveals
children of drug-dependent parents are in danger and essential
precautions should be taken by government.

References

  • Lee KD, Lovejoy FH, Haddow JE. Childhood methadone intoxication: Be on the alert!. Clin Pediatr 1974; 3(1): 66-8.
  • Binchy JM, Molyneux EM, Manning J. Accidental ingestion of methadone by children in Merseyside. BMJ 1994; 308(6940):1335- 6.
  • Milroy CM, Forrest ARW. Methadone deaths: a toxicological analysis. J Clin Pathol 2000;53:277-81.
  • Couper FJ, Chopra K, Pierre-Louis MLY. Fatal methadone intoxication in an infant. Forensic Sci Int 2005;153:71-3.
  • Kintz P, Villain M, Dumestre-Toulet V, Capolaghi B, Cirimele V. Methadone as a chemical weapon: Two fatal cases involving babies. Ther Drug Monit 2005;27(6):741-3.
  • Boyer EW, McCance-Katz EF, Marcus S. Methadone and buprenorphine toxicity in children. Am J Addict 2009;19: 89-95.
  • Kintz P, Evans J, Villian M, Cirimele V. Interpretation of hair findings in children after methadone poisoning. Forensic Sci Int 2010;196: 51-4.
  • Gibson JC, Vulliamy A. Accidental methadone poisoning in children: A call for Canadian research action. Child Abuse Negl 2010;34:553–4.
  • Martin TC, Rocque MA. Accidental and Non-Accidental Ingestion of Methadone and Buprenorphine in Childhood: A Single Center Experience. Curr Drug Saf 1999-2009. 2011;6:1.
  • Marcus SM.Accidental death from take home methadone maintenance doses: A report of a case and suggestions for prevention. Child Abuse Negl 2011;35(1):1-2
  • Bernard JP, Khiabani HZ, Hilberg T, Karinen R, Slørdal L, Waal H, Morland J. Characteristics of methadone-related fatalities in Norway. J Forensic and Leg Med 2015;36:114-120.
  • Bonsignore A, Groppi A, Ventura F, De Stefano F, Palmiere C. Fatal methadone intoxication in an infant listed as a homicide. Int. J. Legal Med. 2016; 130: 1231.
  • Puntis JWL. Morphine overdose in a newborn and the search for the third order ‘why?’ J Clin Forensic Med 1999; 6:109-112.
  • Flanagan RJ, Rooney C, Griffiths C. Fatal poisoning in childhood, England&Wales 1968-2000. Forensic Sci Int 2005;148:121- 129.
  • Wanga GS, Narangb SK, Wellsc K, Chuangd R. A case series of marijuana exposures in pediatric patients less than 5 years of age. Child Abuse Negl 2011;35:563-5.
  • Joya X, Friguls B, Simo M, Civit E, Torre R, Palomeque A, Vall O, Pichini S, Garcia-Algar O. Acute heroin intoxication in a baby chronically exposed to cocaine and heroin: a case report . J Med Case Rep 2011;5:288.
  • EMCDDA (2015). European Drug Report. http://www.emcdda. europa.eu/system/files/publications/974/ TDAT15001ENN.pdf. Accessed: 12 August 2018.
  • TUBIM (2014). Turkey Drug Report. http://www. narkotik.pol.tr/TUBIM/Sayfalar/ULUSALYAYINLAR.aspx Accessed: 12 August 2018.
  • Schulz M, Iwersen-Bergmann S, Hilke A, Schmoldt A. Therapeutic and toxic blood concentrations of nearly 1,000 drugs and other xenobiotics. Crit Care 2012;16(4):R136.

Year 2018, Volume: 32 Issue: 3, 126 - 129
https://izlik.org/JA97HP74LT

Abstract

References

  • Lee KD, Lovejoy FH, Haddow JE. Childhood methadone intoxication: Be on the alert!. Clin Pediatr 1974; 3(1): 66-8.
  • Binchy JM, Molyneux EM, Manning J. Accidental ingestion of methadone by children in Merseyside. BMJ 1994; 308(6940):1335- 6.
  • Milroy CM, Forrest ARW. Methadone deaths: a toxicological analysis. J Clin Pathol 2000;53:277-81.
  • Couper FJ, Chopra K, Pierre-Louis MLY. Fatal methadone intoxication in an infant. Forensic Sci Int 2005;153:71-3.
  • Kintz P, Villain M, Dumestre-Toulet V, Capolaghi B, Cirimele V. Methadone as a chemical weapon: Two fatal cases involving babies. Ther Drug Monit 2005;27(6):741-3.
  • Boyer EW, McCance-Katz EF, Marcus S. Methadone and buprenorphine toxicity in children. Am J Addict 2009;19: 89-95.
  • Kintz P, Evans J, Villian M, Cirimele V. Interpretation of hair findings in children after methadone poisoning. Forensic Sci Int 2010;196: 51-4.
  • Gibson JC, Vulliamy A. Accidental methadone poisoning in children: A call for Canadian research action. Child Abuse Negl 2010;34:553–4.
  • Martin TC, Rocque MA. Accidental and Non-Accidental Ingestion of Methadone and Buprenorphine in Childhood: A Single Center Experience. Curr Drug Saf 1999-2009. 2011;6:1.
  • Marcus SM.Accidental death from take home methadone maintenance doses: A report of a case and suggestions for prevention. Child Abuse Negl 2011;35(1):1-2
  • Bernard JP, Khiabani HZ, Hilberg T, Karinen R, Slørdal L, Waal H, Morland J. Characteristics of methadone-related fatalities in Norway. J Forensic and Leg Med 2015;36:114-120.
  • Bonsignore A, Groppi A, Ventura F, De Stefano F, Palmiere C. Fatal methadone intoxication in an infant listed as a homicide. Int. J. Legal Med. 2016; 130: 1231.
  • Puntis JWL. Morphine overdose in a newborn and the search for the third order ‘why?’ J Clin Forensic Med 1999; 6:109-112.
  • Flanagan RJ, Rooney C, Griffiths C. Fatal poisoning in childhood, England&Wales 1968-2000. Forensic Sci Int 2005;148:121- 129.
  • Wanga GS, Narangb SK, Wellsc K, Chuangd R. A case series of marijuana exposures in pediatric patients less than 5 years of age. Child Abuse Negl 2011;35:563-5.
  • Joya X, Friguls B, Simo M, Civit E, Torre R, Palomeque A, Vall O, Pichini S, Garcia-Algar O. Acute heroin intoxication in a baby chronically exposed to cocaine and heroin: a case report . J Med Case Rep 2011;5:288.
  • EMCDDA (2015). European Drug Report. http://www.emcdda. europa.eu/system/files/publications/974/ TDAT15001ENN.pdf. Accessed: 12 August 2018.
  • TUBIM (2014). Turkey Drug Report. http://www. narkotik.pol.tr/TUBIM/Sayfalar/ULUSALYAYINLAR.aspx Accessed: 12 August 2018.
  • Schulz M, Iwersen-Bergmann S, Hilke A, Schmoldt A. Therapeutic and toxic blood concentrations of nearly 1,000 drugs and other xenobiotics. Crit Care 2012;16(4):R136.
There are 19 citations in total.

Details

Primary Language English
Subjects Forensic Biology
Journal Section Research Article
Authors

Oya Yeter This is me

Rıfat Özgür Özdemirel This is me

Bilgin Hösükler This is me

Submission Date September 4, 2018
IZ https://izlik.org/JA97HP74LT
Published in Issue Year 2018 Volume: 32 Issue: 3

Cite

Vancouver 1.Oya Yeter, Rıfat Özgür Özdemirel, Bilgin Hösükler. Fatal heroin and methadone intoxication in a 4-year old child: A case report. J For Med [Internet]. 32(3):126-9. Available from: https://izlik.org/JA97HP74LT
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