Sheriff's officials say a north Florida woman faces child abuse charges when a 9-year-old child in her care got sick after eating a piece of crack cocaine.

Hernando County Fire Rescue officials responded to Kimberly Losurdo's home Thursday after the child began having convulsions.

The Tampa Tribune reports the child was taken to a hospital where blood tests revealed crack cocaine in the bloodstream.

A report says the child ate an "irregular shaped, rock-like" substance on Christmas Day. The child's condition started deteriorating shortly after.

The Tribune reports Losurdo told deputies the child had been at the residence for five to seven days. She said the child probably found the crack and thought it was candy.

The Department of Children and Families took custody of the child.

[Associated Press]

Visit NBCNews.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

More From 101.5 KNUE