Toxicology case of the month: ingestion of two unidentified tablets by a toddler

Emerg Med J. 2006 Sep;23(9):718-20. doi: 10.1136/emj.2006.034926.

Abstract

An asymptomatic 18 month old child presents to the emergency department of a small district hospital shortly after ingesting two unidentified tablets. A small number of pharmaceuticals and illicit drugs may produce life threatening toxicity in a small child if ingested even in one or two dose units and the onset of toxicity may be delayed for some agents. Following risk assessment, a rational management plan is devised and the child is carefully monitored. The patient is observed overnight and discharged home the following day.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Decontamination
  • Eating
  • Emergency Medical Services / methods*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Infant
  • Monitoring, Physiologic / methods
  • Poisoning / diagnosis*
  • Risk Assessment / methods
  • Tablets / poisoning*

Substances

  • Tablets