TRANQUILIZER POISONING: AN EXAMPLE OF CHILD ABUSE

A case of deliberate perphenazine poisoning by a parent is presented as an example of child abuse. The symptoms of poisoning included prolonged sleep, convulsions, and hyperpyrexia. The correct diagnosis was delayed because the mother denied that the child had received any drug. Suggestions for making the diagnosis include a high index of suspicion on the part of the physician and routine testing for phenothiazines and other psychotropic drugs in patients with convulsions of undetermined etiology.