Generalized epileptic seizures in an infant due to passive exposure to cocaine

Abstract

The differential diagnosis of afebrile seizures in the first year of life is extensive. A 7-month old infant presented two afebrile generalized tonic-clonic seizures in 23 hours; her psychomotor and growth development followed a normal course. Laboratory analysis, cerebral echography and electroencephalogram were normal. Urine toxicology was positive for cocaine on two occasions. A negative urine sample was obtained 48 hours later. The parents denied drug abuse but explained a recent exposure to smoke some hours before the episode. The patient had no seizures in the following six months, with normal psychomotor development. Passive inhalation of cocaine is associated with seizures in infants. There is no perception of the risk of passive exposure to cocaine in our country, despite the increasing consumption of crack in young adults. Urine toxicology should be systematically included in the study of a first afebrile seizure in an infant.