A child experienced cardiac arrest and stopped breathing 7 hours after ingesting 75mg of delta-8-THC gummies, well beyond the standard observation window.
Emergency physicians, pediatricians, poison control specialists, and parents.
Cardiac arrest occurred 7 hours post-ingestion, beyond the standard 3-6 hour observation window
What the researchers found
A 7-year-old who ate five 15mg delta-8-THC gummies experienced 15-second asystole with apnea 7 hours after ingestion, despite being clinically stable. This is the first reported pediatric case of THC-induced asystole.
Why it matters
The standard observation period after pediatric THC ingestion is 3-6 hours. This case shows life-threatening events can occur later, suggesting current guidelines need revision.
The numbers in context
75mg total delta-8-THC. Asystole >15 seconds at 7 hours post-ingestion. Bradycardia treated with 0.1mg glycopyrrolate. Discharged after 24 hours.
How the study worked
Case report with continuous telemetry monitoring.
What this study cannot tell us
Single case. Delta-8-THC may differ from delta-9. Mechanism not definitively established. Product potency may be imprecise.
How to read the evidence
Single case report, lowest evidence level, but first-of-its-kind finding with important clinical implications.
When this study was published
Published in 2024.
The bigger picture
With cannabis edibles increasingly available in child-appealing forms, accidental pediatric ingestions are rising. Apparently stable children may develop delayed, life-threatening complications.
Questions still open
- Should the observation period for pediatric THC ingestion be extended beyond 6 hours?
- Are delta-8-THC products more cardiotoxic in children?
Common questions
Can THC cause heart problems in children?
How long should a child be monitored after eating THC?
Read the original research
Asystole in a young child with tetrahydrocannabinol overdose: a case report and review of literature.
Frontiers in toxicology, 6, 1371651
Citation
Masilamani, Mats Steffi Jennifer; Leff, Rebecca; Kawai, Yu. (2024). Asystole in a young child with tetrahydrocannabinol overdose: a case report and review of literature.. Frontiers in toxicology, 6, 1371651. https://doi.org/10.3389/ftox.2024.1371651
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