Infants eliminate ethanol at rate comparable to that in adults

2.5 out of 5 stars Accidental Acute Alcohol Intoxication in Infants: Review and Case Report. Minera G, Robinson E.  J Emerg Med 2014;47:524-526 Abstract This case report describes a 9-week-old 9.5 kg boy who was brought to the emergency department when he was observed to be “acting strangely.”  He smelled of alcohol. History revealed that the grandmother had inadvertently prepared the infant’s formula with vodka instead of water. The child’s respiratory rate was 22/min and oxygen saturation 99% on room air. Fingerstick glucose was 167 mg/dL on admission and serum alcohol level was 330 mg/dL. Repeat serum alcohol level 3 hours later was 270 mg/dL. (Note: In what is apparently an editorial error, the paper states that the 3 hour level was 0.27 mg/dL. This is clearly wrong, as indicated in the paper’s Figure 2.) The patient was treated with D5NS and did well. The serum alcohol level was essentially zero 24 hours after presentation. Based on the first two alcohol measurements 3 hours apart. the elimination rate was 21.6 mg/dL/h. This rate is consistent with the elimination rate in adults (between 10 and 30 mg/dL/hr with a mean of approximately 18 mg/dL/h) and most previously reported rates in infants and children. The authors helpfully review published case reports of alcohol intoxication in infants. Unfortunately, their discussion is somewhat confusing, since they do not clear distinguish between blood alcohol levels and serum alcohol levels. &nb...
Source: The Poison Review - Category: Toxicology Authors: Tags: Medical Alcohol ethanol elimination rate ethanol intoxication infant pediatric Source Type: news