Pruritus, as a Neglected Symptom, in Opioid Poisoning in Children

Abstract

Background: Opioid poisoning is common and fatal childhood poisoning in Iran with nonspecific, hidden, vague, and misleading clinical manifestations in some cases. Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate and emphasize pruritus, as a neglected and helpful symptom in this important poisoning. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, one hundred pediatrics patients (< 14 years) with opioid poisoning who were referred to Loghman Hakim Hospital, Tehran-Iran, from April 2018 to April 2019 were enrolled the study. Demographic data including age, sex, type of poisoning, clinical manifestations including pruritus, its onset, location, duration, and therapy, also laboratory findings including complete blood count (CBC) and Eosinophilia recorded in patient-specific information forms. The collected data were analyzed using SPSS 21 software. Results: The patients’ mean age was 43.4 ± 31.4 months. Fifty-seven (57%) of them were male. Fifty-two (52%) of them reported Pruritus that in 84% observed in face. In 31% of children, itching resulted in skin scratches. The most common clinical manifestations were CNS depression (93%), respiratory suppression (68%), vomiting (52%), pruritus (52%), and meiosis (51%). There was no significant relationship between pruritus and gender, age, laboratory findings, family history of addiction, and allergy. Pruritus had a significant difference with Respiratory suppression (apnea, bradypnea, cyanosis), meiosis, vomiting, and redness of the skin (P-value: 0.05, 0.003, 0.009, and 0.002, respectively). Pruritus was controlled by naloxone in all of our patients. Conclusions: According to the results of the present study, pruritus is a common and helpful clinical manifestation in children with opioid poisoning that helps the physician for correct diagnosis, especially in hidden clinical scenarios.