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Published:
Journal of Analytical Toxicology,
ISSN 0146-4760,
Volume 27, Number 7, October 2003,
pp. 523-526
CASE REPORT: Fatal Cold Medication Intoxication in an Infant
Diane M. Boland, Joseph Rein, Emma O. Lew, and
W. Lee Hearn
Miami-Dade Medical Examiner Department, Toxicology Laboratory, 1851 NW 10th
Avenue, Miami, Florida 33136
The case history and toxicological findings of an infant fatality involving
pseudoephedrine, brompheniramine, and dextromethorphan are presented. Concentrations
of brompheniramine and dextromethorphan were measured in both postmortem blood
and liver specimens using a gas chromatograph equipped with a nitrogen-phosphorus
detector. Brompheniramine and dextromethorphan were 0.40 mg/L and 0.50 mg/L,
respectively, in the blood sample and 0.16 mg/kg and 0.57 mg/kg in the liver
sample. The concentration of pseudoephedrine in blood and liver specimens was
measured using gas chromatography–mass spectrometry and was determined
to be 14.4 mg/L in the blood and 16 mg/kg in the liver. Additionally, a baby
bottle allegedly administered to the infant was collected as evidence and sent
to the Medical Examiner’s Office for evaluation. The amounts of total
brompheniramine, dextromethorphan, and pseudoephedrine remaining in the baby
bottle were 1.4 mg, 9.4 mg, and 40 mg, respectively. Reproduction
of editorial content of this journal is prohibited without publisher’s
permission.
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