The Toxic Shelf - The Unintentional Ingestion of a Cough Suppressant

May 29, 2023

A 4-year-old boy born with no past medical history presents in cardiac arrest. As resuscitation measures are underway, you obtain collateral from EMS and parents. The patient’s sibling was recently diagnosed with a viral upper respiratory infection and was prescribed a cough suppressant. Unfortunately, the medication had been left within reach of the child, and an unknown number of capsules were ingested.

Here we will lead you through the management of the cough suppressant “Tesselon Perles”.

Sumeet Sandhu, DO & Jenny Lu, MD

The Toxic Shelf: Oh No, C-O!

January 6, 2022

A family of 4 (ages 46, 5, 15 and 17) presented to the Emergency Department for an “unknown gas leak” at their apartment complex. EMS reported 2 elderly patients who were reported dead in their apartment. The patients presented with flu-like symptoms as well as a headache. In the ED, 2 of the 4 were febrile and 3 of the 4 patients were tachycardic but all had normal oxygen saturations on room air without evidence of respiratory distress.

The Toxic Shelf: Ethylene Glycol - the Drink you Shouldn't Accept at a Party.

October 28, 2021

Case: A 23-year-old male with no past medical history presents with abdominal pain, altered mental status, nausea, and vomiting, after ingestion of approximately 2 cups (~100cc) of antifreeze at a party two days before presentation.

the County Consult