In a harrowing incident on April 29, a baby in Brindisi, Italy, was rushed to Perrino Hospital after inadvertently being fed white wine instead of water, leading to an alcoholic coma—a situation all the more alarming given the child’s tender age of just four months.
A Bottle Mix-Up with Serious Consequences
The child was spending the day with his grandmother, a routine that turned critical during a seemingly ordinary feeding. Preparing to mix powdered milk for her grandson, the grandmother reached for a bottle to add water to the mixture. However, unbeknownst to her, she grabbed a bottle of white wine instead. The bottles, both opaque, were indistinguishable to her at the moment—one held water, the other wine.
The Discovery of the Mistake
The grandmother realized something was wrong when the baby abruptly refused to drink any more of the mixture partway through his feeding. Upon discovering her grave error, she immediately alerted the child’s mother and then emergency services.
Critical Care for the Youngest Patients
Quickly transported to Perrino Hospital, the infant was soon moved to a specialized pediatric facility, where he has been receiving critical care. Due to his young age and the serious nature of his condition, he remains intubated and under close monitoring by medical professionals, who are doing everything in their power to address this unprecedented situation.
This incident serves as a stark reminder of the importance of vigilance and precaution in handling and labeling household substances, especially in environments with children. It underscores a critical message to all caregivers about double-checking what goes into a child’s food or drink, to prevent such dangerous accidents from occurring.
