Zeitschrift für Alkoholismus und Drogenabhängigkeit
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Severe Maajoun Poisoning in Two Infants, Morocco

Achour S, Jalal Gh, Abourazzak S, Soulaymani R and Hida M

Maajoun is a pastry mixture prepared from hemp resin and other aphrodisiacs. It is widely consumed in Morocco for addiction and its aphrodisiac effects. Its frequent and common consumption in adults expose the children and infants to serious accidental intoxication leading sometimes to death. We report two cases of severe poisoning in two infants due to an accidental ingestion of Maajoun with good outcome after a symptomatic treatment. Case 1: An infant aged 14 months accidentally ingested a piece of Maajoun and he presented coma, hypothermic, bradycardia and mydriasis. The biological test was normal. The toxicological analysis using immunological methods carried out on the urines was positive for the tetrahydrocannabinol (cannabis) and the Benzodiazepines. The evolution was favourable without any complication nor sequelae. Case 2: A 12 months healthy infant without any previous significant pathology was admitted to the emergency for apyretic seizures. The clinical exam objectified a tonico-clonic crisis of the four limbs with revulsion eyes and pupils in mydriasis. No neurological deficiency was associated. The infant was tachycardic at 180 beats / min, apyretic and normotensive. Toxicological analysis in blood and urine was negative for medication and pesticides. The appearance of fever to 38.5 justified the practice of lumbar puncture and a CT scan that came back normal excluding cerebromeningeal affection. A new oriented interrogation revealed addiction notion at the neighbours’. The toxicological research using immunochemical method “Olympus” has confirmed a high level of cannabis (150 ng/ml). The evolution was favourable after symptomatic treatment. The infant was discharged from the hospital after 24 hours of medical supervision. Conclusion: Accidental maajoun poisoning in infants can be serious and leading sometimes to death, health professionals should be aware of this fact and of the management of this type of poisoning in children.