(haipo) - Two toddlers, two and three years old, came to the children's center in Rambam after eating cookies that contained cannabis that were stored in the refrigerator of the family's home.
The children were taken to the medical center when they were in a poor state of consciousness and when one of them was suffering from convulsions.
"Upon arriving at the emergency department, the children underwent various tests and were transferred to the intensive care unit for further treatment," informed Riyad Sheikh, the head of the pediatric emergency department at the Ruth Children's Hospital in Rambam.
"When there was an improvement in their condition and after they stabilized, the children were transferred for further supervision in one of the children's wards, and they were released home when they felt well."
In recent years, there has been an increase in children being harmed by various cannabis products, at the same time as an increase in the consumption of medical cannabis in Israel. In the summer months, when the children are outside the various educational frameworks, the number of home accidents among children is at its peak.
Dr. Eidit Pasternak, Director of the Pediatric Emergency Medicine Unit at the Ruth Children's Hospital in Rambam, Says that exposing children to cannabis products endangers their health and even their lives.
Dr. Idit Pasternak:
"Cannabis products for medical use are mainly intended for adults, and when they are given to children, they are very measured and precise doses. The effect of these substances on children is different from their effect on adults and is dangerous to their health. In some cases, it may even endanger their lives. Children must be watched and caution must be exercised when it comes to Epson these materials and keep them out of the reach of the little ones."
An increase of 62% compared to the previous year
According to data from the Rambam Poisoning Information Center, during the year 2023, no fewer than 34 cases of cannabis poisoning were reported in children aged 18 and under. This is a 62% increase compared to 2022, when the number of reported cases was 21 in this age range.
