Cannabis Intoxication, a Neglected Cause of Altered Level of Consciousness in Children: A Case Series
A. Mari, L. Gianolio, L. Abbattista, Francesca Ripoli, V. Calcaterra, V. Fabiano
International Journal of Pediatrics and Child Health June 2, 2021 DOI: 10.12974/2311-8687.2021.09.5 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Case series Case report Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 3 |
| Population | Toddlers admitted to an emergency department with altered level of consciousness due to cannabis intoxication |
| Duration | 12-month period |
| Topics | Altered states of consciousness Cannabis |
| Key findings | Three toddlers presented with ALC due to cannabis intoxication, with varied clinical presentations. The authors argue that cannabis intoxication should be suspected in afebrile children with ALC and that a urine drug test should be performed. |
Abstract
Altered level of consciousness (ALC) represents a neurological emergency, which demands a methodical approach to evaluation and treatment. Emergency departments’ Paediatricians dealing with children with ALC need a rapid and reliable diagnostic process to rule out life-threatening conditions. ALC can be caused by structural and non-structural conditions, and, among non-structural conditions, intoxications must always be investigated. Toddlers and young children exposed to cannabis may present ALC due to explorative ingestion of the substance. We report three cases of toddlers who were admitted to our emergency department over a 12-month period with ALC due to cannabis intoxication. The three cases highlight how clinical presentation of cannabis intoxication can be variegated. Therefore, in case of afebrile children presenting with ALC Cannabis intoxication must be suspected and a urine drug test should be performed.
Comparable studies
Other case reports and case series on cannabis, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Psychotic Reactions Following Cannabis Use in East Indians Patients at an Indian drug addiction clinic who developed acute cannabis-related psychosis | 1974 | Descriptive report (case series of clinical observations) | n = 200 |
| Psychiatric effects of cannabis use Swedish cases of cannabis psychosis | 1985 | Case series | n = 70 |
| Forty-Six Cases of Psychosis in Cannabis Abusers Gunila Bernhardson Habitual cannabis users treated for psychosis at Swedish psychiatric clinics and mental... | 1972 | Case series (retrospective survey of psychiatric records) | n = 46 |
| Hallucinogen persisting perception disorder after psilocybin consumption: a case study 18-year-old man with HPPD after mixed psilocybin and cannabis intoxication | 2005 | Case study | n = 1 |
| Cannabis‐induced Koro in Americans American men aged 22-26 with years of cannabis experience who reported negative... | 2001 | Case series | n = 3 |