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Acetazolamide poisoning in a toddler

E Baer1, D M Reith

  • 1Royal Children's Hospital, Herston, Queensland, Australia.

Journal of Paediatrics and Child Health
|September 5, 2001
PubMed

Insights

Acetazolamide overdose in children is rare but can cause severe metabolic acidosis. Prompt treatment with sodium bicarbonate led to a full recovery in a pediatric case, highlighting poisoning as a key diagnosis.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric toxicology
  • Clinical chemistry

Background:

  • Acetazolamide is a carbonic anhydrase inhibitor used to treat glaucoma and epilepsy.
  • Data on acetazolamide toxicity in pediatric populations is limited.

Observation:

  • A 12-month-old female child ingested 500-1250 mg of acetazolamide.
  • The child presented with significant metabolic acidosis, with a maximum base deficit of 11.6.

Findings:

  • Acetazolamide ingestion can lead to severe metabolic acidosis in children.
  • Treatment with sodium bicarbonate is effective in reversing the acidosis.

Implications:

  • Accidental acetazolamide poisoning should be considered in the differential diagnosis of pediatric metabolic acidosis.
  • This case highlights the importance of considering environmental toxins in pediatric emergencies.

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