DIAZEPAM INTOXICATION IN A CHILD.

Abstract

Introduction THE PROBLEM of accidental ingestion of drugs by children is a growing one, due to both the accessibility and the rapidly increasing number of drugs. Consequently, the physician must be alert to signs and symptoms which may be indicative of poisoning by a new therapeutic agent. This paper is an illustration of such a situation, presenting a case of acute diazepam * intoxication in a child. Report of Case A 2-year-old Caucasian male was given 20-24 mg of diazepam by his 3-year-old sister at 7amon March 10, 1964. Two hours later he was unable to sit or stand, but seemed alert. He was taken to the family physician who performed a gastric lavage 3.5 hours after the accidental poisoning. No tablets were found in the aspirate. Shortly thereafter, the patient became drowsy. He was hospitalized five hours post drug ingestion. Physical examination revealed a 13.5 kg (30 lb),