Acute Intoxication by Transdermal Opium Application in Infants: Two Case Reports

• Main Authors: Iraj Sedighi, Firozeh Hossein, Mahmood Rezaei, Roshanak Benabbas
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Arak University of Medical Sciences 2012-05-01
• Series: Iranian Journal of Toxicology
• Subjects: Burn Injury; Intoxication; Opium; Transdermal
• Online Access: http://ijt.arakmu.ac.ir/browse.php?a_id=124&slc_lang=en&sid=1&ftxt=1

Background: Acute opium intoxication is one of the most common causes of poisoning in children in Iran. Although most cases are accidental, traditional misuse of opium for symptomatic therapy of various childhood diseases also contributes to high rate of opium intoxication in Iran. Cases: Here, we report two cases of opium intoxication in infants resulted from transdermal application of opium on burned skin. To our knowledge this is the first case report of intoxication from transdermal misuse of opium. Conclusion: Health care providers should be aware about signs and symptoms of opium intoxication in children. Opium intoxication should be suspected in each child with history of a recent burn injury that presented with decreased level of consciousness.