Furthermore, when treating a pediatric patient with pica that appears to present with bowel obstruction, unintentional drug ingestion should also be considered, particularly if there is a suspicion that the child lives in a household where drugs are abused, since drug toxicity presents similarly. Postmortem iliac blood and urine tested positive for methamphetamine and amphetamine.ĭISCUSSION/CONCLUSION: This case emphasizes that the age range for suspected accidental drug ingestion should be expanded for those with pica, as these patients, despite being older, may not be able to differentiate between what they should and should not ingest. Autopsy revealed foreign objects in her stomach and bowels: a green leafy substance, coins and other metallic items, folded papers, and plastics. Radiographic imaging showed multiple radio-opaque foreign objects in the stomach and bowel. Methods: A PubMed search was completed in Clinical Queries using the key term 'pica' OR 'dirteating'. Objective: To familiarize physicians with the clinical evaluation and management of children with pica. Methamphetamine toxicity and bowel obstruction can present similarly in children however, methamphetamine was not tested until the postmortem examination.ĬASE DESCRIPTION: An 11 year old girl with a history of pica was found unresponsive in her home and pronounced dead after unsuccessful resuscitative efforts. Background: Pica is a common condition in childhood that is commonly missed. This case reports a pediatric incident of pica induced bowel obstruction with sepsis that was complicated by methamphetamine ingestion. Pica is a feeding and eating disorder common in children between the ages of 2 and 3 and is characterized by the persistent consumption of nonfood substances. INTRODUCTION: Methamphetamine, a synthetic stimulant, acts on the central nervous system to increase monoamine levels and causes euphoria, wakefulness, and alertness for several hours.
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