Hypoglycemia following albuterol overdose in a child

Acute overdose with beta-sympathomimetics results in transient elevation of blood glucose levels. Hypoglycemia has previously been reported in newborns of mothers following prolonged use of sympathomimetics used as tocolytic therapy. The authors report the first case of symptomatic hypoglycemia in a child, occurring 16 hours after acute albuterol overdose. Hypoglycemia may occur as a complication of acute beta-sympathomimetic overdose, probably as a reaction to acute elevation of blood sugar and resultant hyperinsulinemia. The authors suggest that in children with a large overdose of beta-sympathomimetics, blood glucose levels should be monitored for several hours. In those with marked hyperglycemia, monitoring should be extended until normalization of blood glucose levels.