Opium intake in infants and children in Baluchistan.

Opium (powdered poppy Capsules) mixed with sugars and other plant products is a popular home made remedy for colic, cough and tonics for infants and children in Baluchistan. Over a period of 7 years (1977.1983) 28 children between the ages of I month to 5 years were admitted in Civil Hospital Quetta due to opium poisoning accounting for 0.16% of all paediatric admissions during the same period. Of the total admissions due to various causes of poisoning, opium was found to be the second commonest cause, but mortality (42.9%) due to opium poisoning was the highest of all (Table 1).