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Serious toxicity in a young child due to ibuprofen

E E Oker1, L Hermann, C R Baum

  • 1Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Illinois at Chicago, Toxikon Consortium, 60612, USA. istan_bul@msn.com

Academic Emergency Medicine : Official Journal of the Society for Academic Emergency Medicine
|August 5, 2000
PubMed

Insights

A toddler experienced a seizure and metabolic acidosis after ingesting a large amount of ibuprofen (600 mg/kg). Early seizures are a rare, serious sign of ibuprofen toxicity, even with treatment.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Emergency Medicine
  • Clinical Toxicology

Background:

  • Ibuprofen is a common over-the-counter nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) used for pain and fever.
  • Overdose can lead to serious toxicity, including metabolic acidosis.

Observation:

  • An 18-month-old male presented with lethargy and apnea after ingesting approximately 7.2 grams of ibuprofen.
  • The patient experienced a tonic-clonic seizure and presented with metabolic acidosis.

Findings:

  • Serum ibuprofen levels were significantly elevated at 640 microg/mL at 4 hours post-ingestion.
  • Metabolic acidosis is common in ibuprofen doses >400 mg/kg, but early seizures are rarely reported.
  • The patient improved with treatment and was extubated the following day.

Implications:

  • This case highlights the potential for early seizures as a rare but critical sign of severe ibuprofen toxicity in children.
  • Clinicians should consider early neurological symptoms in the context of significant ibuprofen ingestion.
  • Prompt recognition and management are crucial for favorable outcomes in pediatric ibuprofen overdose.

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