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Methadone toxicity in infants: a report of two fatalities

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Abstract

Fatalities in infants resulting from methadone toxicity are rare within the United Kingdom. We report two cases of fatality attributed to methadone toxicity in infants aged 3½ and 15 months of age, respectively. One of the two cases was also associated with diazepam ingestion. We discuss the difficulties with the interpretation of paediatric forensic toxicology and review the current literature related to methadone and diazepam toxicity in infants and older children.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Warwick Medical School, University of Warwick, Coventry, CV4 7AL, UK

    V. Mistry

  2. East Midlands Forensic Pathology Unit, University of Leicester, Leicester Royal Infirmary, Robert Kilpatrick Building, Leicester, LE2 7LX, UK

    A. J. Jeffery & G. N. Rutty

  3. Forensic Toxicology Service, University Hospitals of Leicester, Leicester Royal Infirmary, Leicester, LE1 5WW, UK

    W. Madira

  4. Fetal and Neonatal Pathologist, Queens Medical Centre, Nottingham, NG7 2UH, UK

    C. J. H. Padfield

Authors
  1. V. Mistry
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  2. A. J. Jeffery
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  3. W. Madira
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  4. C. J. H. Padfield
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  5. G. N. Rutty
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to G. N. Rutty.

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Mistry, V., Jeffery, A.J., Madira, W. et al. Methadone toxicity in infants: a report of two fatalities. Forensic Sci Med Pathol 6, 116–120 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12024-009-9138-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12024-009-9138-0

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