Akron Children’s Hospital official concerned about THC ingestion in infants
With recreational marijuana legalization on the upcoming ballot in Ohio in November, health officials have noticed an uptick in THC ingestion cases among kids and infants.
Dr. Timothy Lee is the medical director of Akron Children’s Hospital Emergency Department and a board-certified emergency medicine physician.
Dr. Lee met with paramedics to advise how to respond to life-threatening emergencies in a patient’s first year of life that might be difficult to diagnose.
Emergencies in the first year of life
Dr. Lee said some illnesses infants often are diagnosed with within the emergency room include hypoglycemia, botulism, intussusception, congenital heart disease and ingestion of toxic substances like THC.
“What I wanted to accomplish today was to talk about what could we behind that when a patient presents as very ill, what are some of the conditions that might underlying that and demystify some of those...conditions that you don’t see every day, but what are possible [paramedics] might encounter out in the field,” he said.
THC ingestion is one of the diagnoses Dr. Lee wants paramedics to look out for as it’s becoming more common in children’s emergency rooms.
What could happen if an infant ingests THC?
According to Dr. Lee, research shows the legalization of marijuana in Ohio could put more children at risk of ingesting cannabis candy.
“This is something that we’re seeing more and more of,” said Dr. Lee. “If recreational marijuana becomes legal, studies have shown that in states where it becomes legal, the presentations of children to the emergency department for THC intoxication increases by 30% each and every year from the [legalization year]. Of course in Ohio, there’s some degree of legalization and the presence of these products in the home so it’s definitely out there.”
Dr. Lee said some of the symptoms of THC intoxication include sleepiness, irritability and changes in behavior, hypersensitivity and tachycardia.
Symptoms may include a slowed heart rate, bradycardia, red eyes or dilated pupils and, in extreme and rare cases, seizures.
“Coming up in November, we as Ohioans will have wherewithal to vote on whether or not these products can be sold for recreational use,” he said.
Akron Children’s Hospital Kidshealth: What Are the Effects of Marijuana?
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