Nonketotic hyperglycemic coma in toddlers after unintentional methadone ingestion.

Abstract

Methadone overdoses are increasing in parallel with the increased frequency of opiate substitution therapy in adults. Although unintentional methadone intoxication in children is rare, it is becoming more frequently recognized. We report 3 cases of unintentional methadone overdose in toddlers who initially displayed central nervous system depression associated with severe nonketotic hyperglycemia and discuss the possible pathophysiologic mechanisms of an underrecognized symptom of opiate intoxication in young children.

• Authors: Sinan Tiras, Vincent Haas, Laurent Chevret, Marion Decobert, Anne Buisine, Denis Devictor, Philippe Durand, Pierre Tissières
• Journal: Annals of emergency medicine (Ann Emerg Med) Vol. 48 Issue 4 Pg. 448-51 (Oct 2006) ISSN: 1097-6760 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 16997682 (Publication Type: Case Reports, Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Insulin
• Receptors, Opioid, mu
• Sweetening Agents
• Naloxone
• Dobutamine
• Receptor, Insulin
• Methadone
• Epinephrine

Topics

• Accidents, Home
• Animals
• Brain Damage, Chronic (etiology)
• Child, Preschool
• Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 (diagnosis)
• Diagnostic Errors
• Dobutamine (therapeutic use)
• Drug Packaging
• Epinephrine (therapeutic use)
• Female
• France
• Humans
• Hyperglycemic Hyperosmolar Nonketotic Coma (chemically induced, complications, diagnosis, drug therapy)
• Infant
• Insulin (therapeutic use)
• Islets of Langerhans (drug effects, physiopathology)
• Male
• Methadone (pharmacology, poisoning)
• Mice
• Multiple Organ Failure (etiology)
• Myocardial Infarction (etiology)
• Naloxone (therapeutic use)
• Receptor, Insulin (drug effects)
• Receptors, Opioid, mu (drug effects, physiology)
• Shock, Cardiogenic (etiology)
• Sweetening Agents
• Time Factors