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Toddlers are the most at-risk group for accidental cannabis ingestion, and the symptoms can look a lot like other neurological emergencies. A new Italian study found that lethargy, irritability, and poor responsiveness were the most common signs in young children exposed to cannabinoids. In one case, a child developed severe brain swelling and needed a ventilator.
As cannabis becomes more widely available, accidental poisoning in young children is an increasingly urgent concern. A five-year retrospective study from a pediatric emergency department in Palermo, Italy, analyzed 18 children (average age 2.8 years) with confirmed cannabinoid intoxication. The vast majority — 16 of 18 — were toddlers under age 2 who accidentally ingested cannabis, while the remaining two were teenagers who used it voluntarily.
Neurological symptoms dominated the clinical picture. Lethargy was the most common sign, followed by irritability and poor responsiveness to stimuli. Most children were managed with IV fluids and monitoring, but the cases ranged widely in severity — one child developed cerebral edema and respiratory depression serious enough to require ICU admission and mechanical ventilation.
By the Numbers:
Why it matters: With cannabis products more accessible than ever, clinicians seeing children with sudden-onset altered consciousness or neurological symptoms should keep cannabinoid intoxication on their radar — and urine toxicology screening can be a fast, reliable way to confirm it.
