CARBAMATE POISONING IN EARLY-CHILDHOOD AND IN ADULTS

Objective: Retrospective evaluation of the clinical course of carbamat e poisoning in young children and adults, Design: Thirty-six children aged 1 to 8 years (median 2.5 years) and 24 adults aged 17 to 41 years (median 22 years) ingested rat poison resulting in carbamate poisonin g. The ingested poisons in all cases were positively identified as met homyl or aldicarb by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Results: Sy mptoms of intoxication in children were compared to those in adults wi th similar depression of the serum cholinesterase. The predominant sym ptoms in young children were central nervous system depression and hyp otonia. The most common muscarinic effect was diarrhea. in adults, the main signs were miosis and fasciculations. Fasciculations in children were less frequent. Central nervous system depression, hypotonia, and diarrhea were uncommon in adults. Conclusion: Based on a relatively l arge number of carbamate poisonings in young children, we conclude tha t the clinical presentation differs from adult poisoning manifestation s. The absence of classic muscarinic effects does not exclude the poss ibility of carbamate;poisoning in young children with central nervous system depression.