Asia Pacific Journal of Medical Toxicology

A Cross Sectional Study on Pediatric Methadone Poisoning in Northeast of Iran

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

Abdolkarm Hamedi 1
Alireza Ataei 2
Mohammad Reza Balali 3
Somayeh Ghahremani 4
Sarah Ghahremani 2

1 Professor of pediatrics, Mashhad University of medical science, Imam Reza Hospital, Mashhad, Iran.

2 Assistant professor of pediatrics, Mashhad University of medical science, Imam Reza Hospital, Mashhad, Iran.

3 specialist of pediatrics, Mashhad, Iran

4 Assistant of nuclear medicine, Mashhad University of medical science, Qaem hospital, Mashhad, Iran.

https://doi.org/10.22038/apjmt.2016.7671
Abstract
Introduction: Methadone is derived from heroin, this product is available in drug stores in form of syrup1mg/ml. Methadone is a long acting drug with half-life about 24 hours. Poisoning from opiates is one of the most dangerous and prevalent causes of poisoning in Imam Reza hospital (Norths- East of Iran), and its pattern has changed in the form of increased poisoning from methadone in recent years. The goal of this study is to evaluate why methadone poisoning in children under 6years old have been increasing in recent years
Method: This cross-sectional study was done on all of children referred to pediatric emergency room of Imam Reza Hospital for cause and agent of poisoning during 2013 to identify the number and the most common cause of poisoning; then evaluated demographic data in children with methadone poisoning as most common cause of accidental poisoning in children.
Results: In one year 3395 child admitted in pediatric emergency room that 409 cases (12%) had intoxication; of which 256 cases had different opium poisoning (62.5%) and 69 cases (16.8%) had methadone poisoning. In methadone poisonimg39 cases were male and 30 female. 25-48 months and 4-24 months age groups had the most cases of methadone poisoning respectively.
Conclusion: In the emergency center the most common poisoning is opioid compounds especially methadone and the reason can be methadone syrup which is available pharmacies. Parents use it to give up addiction Poisoning occurred because child likes to open the door of bottle and eat accidental.

Keywords

Children
Methadone
Poisoning

Hamedi A, Ghahremani S, Ataei Nakhaei A, Balali MR, Ghahremani S. A Cross Sectional Study on Pediatric Methadone Poisoning in Northeast of Iran. Asia Pac J Med Toxicol 2016;5:75-8.

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