Title:
1Toddler ToxicologyDrugs That Can Kill a Child
with One Pill or Swallow
- Joe Lex, MD, FAAEM
- Temple University School of Medicine
- Philadelphia, PA
- Joseph.Lex_at_TUHS.Temple.edu
2Disclosure
Nothing to declare
3 Cape Cod June 28th July 1st, 2007
Giant Steps in Emergency Medicine The Sun, The
Seaand CME! Visit our website for
details www.GiantSteps-EM.com
Mattu
Lex
Sharieff
DeBlieux
4How Far Weve Come
- 1950 gt400 pediatric overdose deaths
- 2003 34 fatalities from overdose in children lt6
years - Can we be smug??
Intro
5Intro
6Intro
7(No Transcript)
8Intro
9Peak Incidence 1 to 3
- Attracted to toxic substances based on color or
appearance of agent or container - More willing to taste dangerous substances
- Hand-mouth behavior nearly 10 times / hour
Intro
10Peak Incidence 1 to 3
- Physical environment change plays significant
role - Half of accidental poisonings due to product in
use at time of ingestion or recently moved from
usual storage site - Top category cosmetics and personal care products
Intro
11Peak Incidence 1 to 3
- Plants also popular
- Amounts ingested by toddlers small
- Ingestion of toxic substance usually results in
nontoxic or minimally toxic outcomes
Intro
12Poison Hunting on eBay
- 10 month hunt on eBay
- 121 products identified
- 24 supertoxic strychnine, arsenic trioxide,
cyanide, etc. - 63 extremely toxic
- 21 very toxic
- 13 moderately-slightly toxic
Intro
Cantrell FL. Clin Toxicol. 200543(5)375-9.
13(No Transcript)
14Gideon Korens Article
- Koren G. Medications which can kill a toddler
with one tablet or spoonful. Clin Toxicol
19933140713 - Identified medicines lethal to 10-kg child in
single pill or swallow
Koren
15Interest Builds
- Liebelt EL,et al. Small doses, big problems a
selected review of highly toxic common
medications. Pediatr Emerg Care 199392927.
Koren
16Interest Builds
- Michael JB, Sztajnkrycer MD. Deadly pediatric
poisons nine common agents that kill at low
doses. Emerg Med Clin North Am. 2004
Nov22(4)1019-50.
Koren
17Interest Builds
- Matteucci MJ. One pill can kill assessing the
potential for fatal poisonings in children.
Pediatr Ann. 2005 Dec 34(12)964-8.
Koren
18Gideon Korens Return
- Bar-Oz B, Levichek Z, Koren G. Medications that
can be fatal for a toddler with one tablet or
teaspoonful a 2004 update. Paediatr Drugs.
2004 6(2)123-6.
Koren
19Some Assumptions
- Assume healthy toddler with bodyweight 10 kg and
normal drug metabolism - Use lowest described fatal dose from literature
- Use maximal dose unit available
Assume
20Major Miscreants
- TCAs
- Antimalarials
- Antipsychotics
- Anti-arrhythmics
- Methyl salicylate
- Oral hypoglycemics
- Calcium channel blockers
- Theophylline
- Narcotics
- Camphor
Villains
21Liquids
22Camphor
23Camphor A Case Study
- Multiple pediatric deaths
- AAP editorial in 1978 Camphor Who Needs It?
- 20 camphorated oil removed from US pharmacies
- OTC camphor concentration limited to 11 in OTCs
Camphor
Camphor Who needs it? Pediatrics. 1978
Sep62(3)404-6.
24Camphor
- Topical rubefacient induces local hyperemia,
warmth - Analgesic, antipruritic, and antitussive agent
- Variety of OTC liniments Vicks VapoRub,
Ben-Gay, Absorbine, Tiger Balm
Camphor
25Camphor
- Aromatic terpene ketone derived from plants
- Distinct odor, pungent taste
- Some cultures use in cooking
- As little as 700 to 1000 mg fatal
Camphor
AAP Policy Statement. Pediatrics 199494127.
26Camphor
- 7805 cases of topical camphor ingestion in
children younger than age 6 reported to poison
control centers in US in 2001 - Deaths rare since loss of 20 oil
Camphor
27Camphor
- Cause of death respiratory depression, status
epilepticus - 3-year-old ingested 15mL Vicks VapoRub ?
seizures, coma, respiratory depression - 700 mg of camphor
Camphor
Ruha AM, et al. Acad Emerg Med 200310691.
28Camphor
- 2-year-old ingested 10mL Campho-Phenique
- Seizures in 10 minutes, then coma, respiratory
depression lasting 24 hours
Camphor
Gibson DE, et al. Am J Emerg Med 19897413.
29(No Transcript)
30Vicks VapoRub Cream
Camphor
31Campho-Phenique Gel
Camphor
32Campho-Phenique (10.8)
Camphor
33Today
- 1996 9,387 camphor exposures reported to AAPCC
- 7404 in children under 6 years
- NO deaths reported
- Virtually eliminated as a source of lethality in
this country
Camphor
34SUCCESS!!
Camphor
35Methyl Salicylate
36Salicylates
- Present in numerous over-the-counter products
- Aspirin (acetylsalicylic acid)
- Oil of wintergreen (methyl salicylate)
- Pepto-Bismol (bismuth subsalicylate)
Salicylate
37Methyl Salicylate
- Methyl ester of salicylic acid
- Oil of wintergreen
- Deceptively toxic
- Minimal toxic ingested dose in children 150 mg/kg
Salicylate
38Methyl Salicylate
- Betula oil
- Panalgesic
- o-hydroxybenzoic acid methyl ester
- Gaultheria oil
- Methyl o-hydroxy -benzoate
- Sweet birch oil
- Teaberry oil
- Analgit
- Exagien
- Flucarmit
- 2-(methoxy carbonyl)-phenol
- Anthrapole ND
- 2-carbo-methoxyphenol
- Methyl hydroxybenzoate
- Linsal
- Metsal Liniment
Salicylate
39Methyl Salicylate
- One teaspoon of 98 methyl salicylate contains
7000 mg of salicylate - Equivalent to 90 baby aspirin
- gt 4 times potentially toxic dose for 10-kg child
Salicylate
40Methyl Salicylate
- Therapeutic serum ASA for analgesia 15 to 30
mg/dL - Signs and symptoms of toxicity gt30 mg/dL
- Life-threatening levels gt100 mg/dL
Salicylate
41Methyl Salicylate
- Vd doubles or triples in toxic states
- Therapeutic half-life 1 to 2 hours
- Toxic levels with acid urine half-life up to 30
hours
Salicylate
42Methyl Salicylate
- Children with rheumatoid disease at steady state
toxic through minor dietary changes - Infants may show just dehydration, rapid
breathing - Older kids GI symptoms, CNS depression
Salicylate
43Methyl Salicylate
- Non-aspirin salicylates can be converted to
aspirin equivalent doses with the help of
tables found in any standard toxicology book
Salicylate
44Methyl Salicylate 15
Salicylate
45Methyl Salicylate 18.3
Salicylate
46Methyl Salicylate 30
Salicylate
47Methyl Salicylate 30
Salicylate
48Methyl Salicylate 40
Salicylate
49Methyl Salicylate ??
50Methyl Salicylate ??
51Methyl Salicylate 0.06
52Methyl Salicylate
- 21-month-old significant poisoning, peak serum
concentration of 81 mg/dL, after ingesting 4 mL
Salicylate
Howrie DL, et al. Pediatrics 19857586971.
- Fatality with ingestion lt1 tsp
Stevenson CS. Am J Med Sci 193719377288.
53Methyl Salicylate
- 1996 report to AAPCC
- 10,733 toxic exposures to methyl salicylate
- 7,712 were children
- Two deaths reported, both in adults
Salicylate
54Podophyllin 25
55Podophyllin 25
- Resinous powder from rhizome of American Mayapple
- Used to treat genital warts
- Occasional adulterant in herbal medicines
- 1989 Hong Kong outbreak
Podophyllin
Ng THK, et al. J Neurol Sci 1991101107-13.
56Podophyllin 25
- Transient toxicity hallucinatory psychosis, bone
marrow depression, hepatic dysfunction - Persistent severe peripheral neuropathy
Podophyllin
Filley CM, et al. Neurology. 1982 Mar
32(3)308-11.
57Podophyllin 25
- Minimal potential fatal dose 15 20 mg/kg
- Maximal dose unit available 1.25 g/5mL
- Volume for potential lethality 1mL
Podophyllin
Filley CM, et al. Neurology. 1982 Mar
32(3)308-11.
58Pastes, Ointments, Liniments
59Dibucaine
60Dibucaine
- Potent amide anesthetic
- Topical uses hemorrhoids, sunburn, episiotomy
pain - 10x as toxic as lidocaine
- 20x as toxic as procaine
Dibucaine
61Dibucaine
- CNS toxicity
- Seizure
- Coma
BAD STUFF
Dibucaine
62Dibucaine
- Cardiotoxicity
- Increased PR
- Widened QT
- Slowed conduction
- Slowed repolarization
- Reentrant dysrhythmias
- SVT
- PVC
Dibucaine
63Dibucaine
- 1 of topical anesthetics sold in US
- lt5 nonfatal exposures to topical anesthetics
- Caused 3 of 4 deaths due to topical anesthetics
over last 20 years
Dibucaine
Dayan PS, et al. Ann Emerg Med. 1996 Oct
28(4)442-5.
64Dibucaine
- In 1995, US Consumer Product Safety Commission
issued rule requiring childproof packing for
containers with gt0.5 mg dibucaine or gt5 mg
lidocaine - Corticaine Dibucort
- Dibusone Nupercainal
Dibucaine
65(No Transcript)
66Pills, Tablets Capsules
67Anti-Arrhythmics
68Quinidine
- D-isomer of quinine
- Derived from cinchona bark
- Side effects and toxicity similar to quinine
- Main concerns dysrhythmias, cardiogenic shock,
coma, seizures, retinal damage
Quinidine
Dellocchio T, et al. Pediatrics. 1976 Aug
58(2)288-90
69Interesting History
- Founder of homoeopathy, Dr. Samuel Hahnemann,
took large daily dose of quinine bark - After 2 weeks, he felt malaria-like symptoms
- Like cures like philosophy was start of
homoeopathy
Quinidine
70Disopyramide
- Another Class 1A
- Falling out of favor
- More anticholinergic than others in class
- 1 pill potentially lethal
Disopyramide
Singer P, et al. J Anal Toxicol. 1995 Oct
19(6)529-30.
71Encainide
- Encainide (Enkaid) removed from American market
voluntarily, still available on compassionate
basis - Case report infant swallowed 1 tablet (25 mg)
with rapid onset V-tach, but survival
Encainide
Mortensen ME, et al. Ann Emerg Med. 1992 Aug
21(8)998-1001.
72Propafenone
- Propafenone (Rhythmol)
- 2 year-old ingested less than one tablet ? rapid
cardiovascular collapse - Eventual recovery
Propafenone
McHugh TP, et al. Ann Emerg Med. 1987 Apr
16(4)437-40.
73Antiarrhythmics
74Antimalarials
75Quinine
76Chloroquine
- Primary treatment for malaria
- Anti-inflammatory
- Antihistamine
- Anti-prostaglandin
- Hydroxychloroquine chemically similar
Chloroquine
77Chloroquine
- Quinolone family
- Now used to treat rheumatoid arthritis, systemic
/ discoid lupus erythematosus, other connective
tissue disorders
Chloroquine
78Chloroquine
- Initial symptom may be cardiac arrest
- Pediatric overdoses neuro symptoms in 30 min to
1 hour - Death seems related to cardiac conduction system
depression and myocardium
Chloroquine
79Chloroquine
- Severity of hypokalemia closely correlates with
level of chloroquine toxicity - Potassium concentrations less than 1.9 mEq/L
correlated with severe, life-threatening ingestion
Chloroquine
Angel G, et al. Lancet. 1995 Dec 16
346(8990)1625.
80Chloroquine
- GI absorption rapid, almost complete
- Peak plasma concentration 1.5 to 3 hours
- Elimination half-life in children 75 to 136 hours
Chloroquine
Cann HM, et al. Pediatrics 19612795102.
81Chloroquine
- Therapeutic dose 10 mg/kg
- Toxic effects 20 mg/kg
- Lethal dose 30 mg/kg
- Confirmed toddler death at 27 mg/kg
- Equivalent to 300mg tablet in 8 kg 12-month-old
Chloroquine
Cann HM, et al. Pediatrics 19612795102.
82Chloroquine
Chloroquine
83Antimalarials
84Clonidine
85Clonidine
- Initially nasal decongestants
- Later marketed as central acting antihypertensive
- Alpha2-adrenergic agonist
- ? central adrenergic tone
- Also bind to imidazoline receptors in medulla
Clonidine
86Imidazolines
- Decongestant imidazolines naphazoline,
oxymetazoline, tetrahydrozoline, xylometazoline - Ophthalmologic brimonidine and apraclonidine used
to treat glaucoma
Clonidine
87Imidazolines
- 2001 1438 clonidine exposures in children
younger than 6 years old - 922 tetrahydrozoline exposures in preschool
children
Clonidine
88Toxicity
- Oral, transdermal delivery
- Patches contain 2.5 mg, 5 mg, and 7.5 mg of
clonidine, - OD resembles opioid ?LOC, bradycardia,
hypotension, respiratory depression, miosis,
hypotonia
Clonidine
89Toxicity
- Toxicity in 30 to 90 minutes
- May persist for 1 to 3 days
- Children most at risk for bradycardia,
respiratory depression, intermittent apnea
Clonidine
90Cases
- Case series 80 children admit for clonidine
ingestion - Average time to onset of symptoms 35 minutes
- Most common presenting sign or symptom reduced
level of consciousness (96)
Clonidine
Nichols MH, et al. Ann Emerg Med 199729511
91Cases
- Six required intubation
- No deaths reported
- 54 of the clonidine belonged to patients
grandmothers
Clonidine
Nichols MH, et al. Ann Emerg Med 199729511
92Cases
- 21-month-old girl coma, bradycardia, hypotension
after ingesting 0.3-mg tablet
Neuvonen PJ, et al. Clin Toxicol 19791436974.
Clonidine
- 6-year-old girl obtundation, bradycardia after
applying patch she mistook for bandage
Killian CA, et al. Pediatr Emerg Care 1997
133401.
93Cases
- 9-month-old boy lethargic 90 minutes after
sucking on a discarded clonidine patch
Caravati EM, et al. Ann Emerg Med 198817175
Clonidine
- 2-year-old child bradycardic, recurrent apnea
after ingesting 5 mL apraclonidine
Everson G, et al. J Toxicol Clin Toxicol 1999
37629.
94Management
- Imidazoline supportive
- Symptomatic patients respond variably to naloxone
up to a total of 10 mg - Retrospective review 39 / 80 patients (49) got
naloxone - Positive response in 4 patients
Clonidine
Nichols MH, et al. Ann Emerg Med 199729511
95Management
- Symptomatic bradycardia start with atropine
- Hypotension unresponsive to fluid resuscitation
or complicated by persistent bradycardia dopamine
Clonidine
Maggi JC, et al. Clin Paediatr 1986254535.
96Tricyclic Anti-depressants
97Cyclic Antidepressants
- Leading cause of poisoning fatality in the United
States until 1993 - Presently 2nd most common class of agents
ingested in fatalities reported to AAPCC
T C A
Litovitz TL, et al. Am J Emerg Med 2002
20391452.
98Cyclic Antidepressants
- All TCAs dangerous in excess
- Desipramine seems especially dangerous in
children - Anticholinergic toxidrome (remember
the mnemonic??)
T C A
99Toxidrome Mnemonic
- blind as a bat dilated pupils
- dry as a bone dehydrated
- mad as a hen hallucinations
- red as a beet skin flushing
- urinary retention
- tachycardia
T C A
100Pathophysiology
- Mortality 2o to cardiotoxicity, CNS toxicity
- ?BP may be 2o arrhythmia-induced cardiogenic
shock, ?PVR 2o to alpha-adrenergic blockade,
sympathomimetic amine depletion
T C A
101Pathophysiology
- Seizures associated with cyclic antidepressant
toxicity typically generalized tonic-clonic,
self-limited - Status epilepticus has been reported
T C A
Lipper B, et al. Am J Emerg Med 1994124517.
102Pathophysiology
- Seizure activity greatest in antidepressants
showing dopamine and norepinephrine reuptake
inhibition bupropion, amoxapine, venlafaxine - Significant toxicity presents within 6 hours of
ingestion
T C A
Lipper B, et al. Am J Emerg Med 1994124517.
103Morbidity / Mortality
- 10 to 20 mg/kg ingestion of most TCAs likely to
result in significant CNS, CV symptoms - 15 to 20 mg/kg ingestion believed to represent
lethal exposure
T C A
Frommer DA, et al. JAMA 19872575216.
104TCA Case Reports
- 3-year-old girl seizures, cardiac dysrhythmias
after ingestion 100 mg desipramine
Jue SG. Drug Intell Clin Pharm 197610523.
T C A
- 250 mg imipramine, amoxapine have resulted in
child fatality
Linakis JG. Clin Toxicol Rev 198810.
Manoguerra AS. Crit Care Q 19824351.
105Management
- Lecture in itself
- Sodium bicarbonate remains mainstay of treatment
to reverse cardiotoxic effects - Beneficial with even normal arterial pH
- Optimal dosing strategy remains to be determined
T C A
106Tricyclic Antidepressants
107Calcium Channel Antagonists
108Epidemiology
- 9264 CCA exposures in 2001
- 100 increase from 1990
- 2249 in children under 6 years
- 88 moderate to major outcomes
- No pediatric deaths reported
- 10 CCAs available in US
CCAs
109Categories
- Phenylalkylamines verapamil
- Benzothiaprines diltiazem
- Act predominantly on cardiac tissue
- Dihydropyridines nifedipine
- Acts predominately on vascular smooth muscle
CCAs
110Presentation
- Hallmark disturbance of cardiovascular system
- Classic manifestations hypotension, bradycardia,
- Reflex tachycardia can be seen with
dihydropyridines
CCAs
111Presentation
- Conduction 2nd and 3rd degree heart block
- Negative inotropy cardiogenic shock or cardiac
arrest - Can be delayed in sustained-release preparation
ingestion
CCAs
112Presentation
- Hypotension can last gt24 hours despite therapy,
- Hyperglycemia multifactorial
- Hyperglycemia in setting of bradycardia and
hypotension suggests CCA ingestion
CCAs
113Case 1
- 11-month-old girl developed seizures 45 minutes
after ingesting 400 mg verapamil
Passal DB, Crespin FH. Pediatrics 1984735435.
CCAs
114Case 2
- 14-month-old girl pale, hypotensive, tachycardic
after ingesting single 10 mg nifedipine tablet - Aggressive interventions
- Bradycardia ? pulseless
- Died 3 hours after presentation
CCAs
Lee DC, et al. J Emerg Med 20001935961.
115Case Series
- Pediatric case series 16 symptomatic patients
among 283 recorded exposures - Five occurred after ingestion single tablet
- Maximal time to symptom onset from 3 to 14 hours
CCAs
Belson MG, et al. Am J Emerg Med 200018581.
116Therapy
- Atropine 1st-line agent in bradycardia, only
moderately successful - Optimal pharmacotherapy poorly defined
- Calcium conflicting data
- Most beneficial in mild toxicity
CCAs
117Therapy
- TOC refractory CCA toxicity high-dose
glucose-insulin - Insulin positive inotrope
- Case series 5 patients with refractory shock
after CCA overdose improved after glucose-insulin
infusions
CCAs
Yuan TH, et al. J Toxicol Clin Toxicol
19993746374.
118Calcium Channel Blockers
119Sulfonylureas
120Sulfonylureas
- Children 12 years and under
- Hypoglycemia in 56/185 (30)
- 54/56 (96) developed hypoglycemia within 8 hours
of ingestion - Clinical observation with oral feeding alone
appears safe
Sulfonylurea
Spiller HA, et al. J Pediatr. 1997 Jul131(1 Pt
1)141-6.
121Sulfonylureas
- Clear symptoms hypoglycemia or glucose levels lt
60 mg/dL admit for supplemental glucose (oral
or IV), monitor - Refractory to IV glucose octreotide, diazoxide
may help
Sulfonylurea
Little GL, et al. J Emerg Med. 2005 Apr
28(3)305-10.
122Sulfonylureas
- 2-year-old boy observed to ingest 5 mg glipizide
- Activated charcoal given within 35 minutes
- Hypoglycemia with serum glucose 49 mg/dL 11 hrs
later
Sulfonylurea
Szlatenyi CS, et al. Ann Emerg Med. 1998 Jun
31(6)773-6.
123Oral Hypoglycemics
124Opioids Opiates
125Epidemiology
- 5914 reported ingestions by children younger than
6 years old in 2001 - Most common hydrocodone with acetaminophen
(Vicodin) - Time to peak toxicity 1 hour
- Most deaths 2o to respiratory depression, hypoxia
Opioids
126Pathophysiology
- Infants and children more susceptible to toxic
effects - Half of children exposed to more than 1 mg/kg of
codeine develop toxicity - 2.5 mg of hydrocodone has been lethal in infant
Opioids
OMA Committee on Pharmacy. Codeine Ont Med Rev
1977444478.
127Treatment
- Supportive
- Naloxone as needed
- Onset of action lt 2 minutes
- Duration of action 20 90 minutes
- Elimination half-life 60 90 minutes
Opioids
128Opioids / Narcotics
129Special Case Lomotil
- Antidiarrheal agent
- 2.5 mg opioid diphenoxylate
- 0.025 mg antimuscarinic atropine
- Both absorbed rapidly
- May be delayed in overdose
Lomotil
130Special Case Lomotil
- Diphenoxylate metabolized to difenoxin, 5x more
active than parent compound - Elimination half-life 12 14 hours
- Little correlation between ingested dose and
outcome
Lomotil
131Special Case Lomotil
- Classically described as biphasic reaction
- Initial antimuscarinic symptoms in 2 3 hours
- Delayed opioid symptoms
- Recent studies show this occurs in only few cases
Lomotil
McCarron MG, et al. Pediatrics 199187694700.
132Special Case Lomotil
- Case series
- 4/36 developed early anticholinergic symptoms
- 15/36 developed opioid toxicity only
Lomotil
McCarron MG, et al. Pediatrics 199187694700.
133Special Case Lomotil
- Catastrophic outcomes reported after ingestion by
children
Wasserman GS, et al. Am Fam Physician 1975
11937.
Lomotil
- Toxicity reported after ingestion of one-half
tablet
Ginsberg CM, et al. Clin Toxicol 1969237782.
134Management
- Similar to other opioids
- Initial symptoms, including coma, may be delayed
- Symptoms have recurred 24 hours after initial
resolution - Recommend admit, monitor for no less than 24
hours
Lomotil
Manoguerra AS, et al. Poisindex, Vol. 117
9/2003.
135Household Products
- Methanol in deicing solutions, windshield washer
fluid, carburetor cleaners - Concentration may be 95
- Ingestion of 4 mL by 10-kg toddler ? serum
methanol concentration of 50 mg/dL
Methanol
136Household Products
- Ethylene glycol in antifreeze, some fire
extinguishers, inks, and adhesives - Concentration may be 95
- Ingestion of 2.9 mL by 10-kg toddler ? serum
ethylene glycol concentration of 50 mg/dL
Ethylene Glycol
137and Dont Forget
- Theophylline still in use
- Extended release preparation available
- Minimal fatal dose 8.4 mg/kg
- Maximal available unit dose 500 mg
- One tablet can definitely kill
Theo
138Primum non Nocere
- No literature suggests better outcomes with
charcoal - Deaths reported from activated charcoal
aspiration - Some in children when they consumed nontoxic
products
A C
Menzies DG, et al. BMJ 1988297459460.
Harsch HH. N Engl J Med 1986314318.
Elliott CG, et al. Chest 198996672674.
139(No Transcript)
140Summary
- Vast majority of toddler ingestions are benign
- Dozen or so medicines can kill 10-kg toddler with
one pill or swallow - Treatment usually supportive
- Activated charcoal can kill
141Joseph.Lex_at_ TUHS.Temple.edu