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PCP intoxication in young children and infants.

M J Welch, G A Correa

Clinical Pediatrics August 1980 DOI: 10.1177/000992288001900801 (opens in new tab)

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Characteristics Case series Case report Peer reviewed
Sample size 16
Population Young children and infants aged 5 years and younger with PCP intoxication (six seen at UCLA Medical Center and 10 from the literature)
Key findings The authors report that PCP intoxication in young children should be suspected with rapid onset of lethargy or coma, strange behavior, staring spells, ataxia, and nystagmus, with less common signs including opisthotonos, hypertension, tachypnea or hyperpnea, miosis, hyperreflexia, hypertonia, and rigidity. They propose that urine detection of PCP is the easiest diagnostic route and that one case suggests infants may be intoxicated by accidental inhalation near people smoking PCP.

Abstract

Six cases of PCP intoxication in young children age 5 years and younger seen at UCLA Medical Center recently and 10 other cases from the literature are described and their clinical findings summarized. PCP intoxication should be suspected in young children and infants presenting with rapid onset of lethargy or coma, strange behavior, staring spells, ataxia, and nystagmus. Other findings less frequent but still suspect are opisthotonos, hypertension, tachypnea or hyperpnea, miosis, hyperreflexia, hypertonia, and rigidity. Once suspected, the diagnosis is most easily made by finding PCP in the urine. Proper diagnosis of PCP intoxication is important to ensure that rapid, appropriate treatment is given, costly diagnostic workups are avoided, and family evaluations are instituted. One case strongly suggests that intoxication in infants may result from accidental inhalation when near individuals who are smoking PCP.

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