Paediatric Toxicology Considerations Case 1

18-month-old Ben is normally fit and well. He has been brought to the ED by his mother as she is concerned he is drowsy after a family party. He was found in the kitchen where a number of “alcopop” bottles had been left on the floor beside a bin, some of which were not completely empty. He has vomited several times. A BM undertaken by the triage nurse is 1.4.

What anatomical, physiological and/or developmental differences between young children and adults are most relevant to this case?

What other differential diagnoses should be considered by the ED physician?

The fatal dose of alcohol in children is approximately 3 g/kg body weight (4 ml/kg absolute ethanol). This is in contrast to adults where the lethal dose is 5-8 g/kg body weight (or 6-10 ml/kg absolute ethanol).

Ben weighs 10 kg. Which four volumes of the following alcoholic beverages would constitute a potentially lethal ingestion for Ben?