NON-ACCIDENTAL POISONING IN CHILDHOOD

A boy aged 7 yr 10 mth was admitted to hospital on several occasions in an unconscious state with twitching and apnoeic episodes. Initial investigations failed to show a specific cause. During his time in hospital he had recurrent episodes of loss of consciousness and, on the last occasion, hypotension and ventricular tachycardia. A diagnosis of imipramine poisoning was established by the presence of imipramine in stomach washings and blood. The drug was being given to the child, both at home and in hospital, by his mother. The possibility of nonaccidental poisoning must be considered if there is no obvious cause for a child's illness. In this case the mother responded to psychiatric treatment.