A Pediatric Case of Benzodiazepine Poisoning Diagnosed Following the Appearance of a Brilliant Blue Tongue.

IF 0.5 Q4 PEDIATRICS
Case Reports in Pediatrics Pub Date : 2025-09-15 eCollection Date: 2025-01-01 DOI:10.1155/crpe/8864772
Yuri Hayashi, Takayuki Miyamoto, Manami Suzuki, Hiroki Sato, Atsumi Takechi, Shuji Fujino, Akiyoshi Takahashi, Tsutomu Watanabe
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Abstract

Benzodiazepines are one of the commonly used prescription anxiolytic drugs; however, they are increasingly used for drug abuse, drug crime, and sometimes for medical child abuse. To prevent misuse of high-potency benzodiazepines, some of them are currently manufactured as a tablet with a speckled blue core that dyes liquid blue when dissolved in drinks. Diagnosing drug poisoning, especially in cases of medical child abuse, can be challenging when signs of ingesting drugs, including empty medical packages, are missing. Herein, we report an infant's case of benzodiazepine poisoning, who was diagnosed with disturbed consciousness and a blue-colored tongue. An 11-month-old boy was referred to our hospital as his tongue was colored blue. According to his family, no blue-colored items were found around him when they noticed his tongue was blue. Physical examination revealed his consciousness was slightly disturbed. Benzodiazepine poisoning was suspected from his level of consciousness and blue-colored tongue, and it was detected using a urine drug test kit (SIGNIFY ER). Medical child abuse was suspected, as accidental ingestion was not likely to happen in the circumstances heard from his family members. Everyone around him denied having benzodiazepine, and how he ingested the medicine was not revealed despite intensive investigation by the police. Benzodiazepine poisoning should be considered in patients presenting with a blue tongue with disturbed consciousness. Adding dyes to medicines commonly used for poisoning may be helpful in recognizing and preventing child abuse.

苯二氮卓类药物中毒的儿童病例诊断后出现亮蓝色的舌头。
苯二氮卓类药物是常用的处方抗焦虑药物之一;然而,它们越来越多地用于药物滥用、毒品犯罪,有时用于医疗虐待儿童。为了防止滥用强效苯二氮卓类药物,其中一些目前以片剂的形式生产,片剂的核心是带斑点的蓝色,当溶解在饮料中时,它会将液体染成蓝色。诊断药物中毒,特别是在医疗虐待儿童的情况下,可能具有挑战性,因为没有摄入药物的迹象,包括空的医疗包装。在此,我们报告一个婴儿苯二氮卓类药物中毒的病例,他被诊断为意识紊乱和蓝色舌头。一个11个月大的男孩因为舌头呈蓝色被送到我们医院。据他的家人说,当他们注意到他的舌头是蓝色的时候,他周围没有发现任何蓝色的东西。体格检查显示他的意识有轻微紊乱。从他的意识水平和蓝色舌头来看,怀疑是苯二氮卓类药物中毒,并使用尿液药物测试试剂盒(SIGNIFY ER)进行检测。怀疑有医疗虐待儿童的嫌疑,因为从他的家人那里听到的情况来看,意外摄入不太可能发生。他周围的人都否认服用了苯二氮卓类药物,而他是如何摄入这种药物的,尽管警方进行了密集调查,但也没有透露出来。出现蓝舌和意识紊乱的患者应考虑苯二氮卓类药物中毒。在通常用于中毒的药物中添加染料可能有助于识别和预防虐待儿童。
本文章由计算机程序翻译,如有差异,请以英文原文为准。
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来源期刊
自引率
11.10%
发文量
48
审稿时长
13 weeks
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