Esposizione accidentale a sostanze stupefacenti: descrizione di due casi clinici

Accidental exposure to illicit drugs in paediatric patients, though rare, is an increasing clinical emergency, especially in high-risk families. Symptoms are often nonspecific, mimic acute neurological conditions and necessitate rapid diagnosis. The paper presents two clinical cases. The first relates to a 2-year-old girl with facial trauma due to a fall. Given her family history and agitation, urine toxicology was performed and she was positive for cocaine. While she was admitted for clinical monitoring without specific treatment her symptoms progressively resolved. The second relates to an 18-month-old girl with poor appetite, hypoactivity and drowsiness. An urgent brain CT scan was requested but not performed due to her positive cannabinoid test. Her symptoms resolved spontaneously. The literature indicates that cannabis intoxication in children typically resolves with clinical observation. These cases underscore the importance of early toxicological screening in at-risk children to prevent unnecessary invasive procedures and ensure child protection.