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Acute hepatic failure in an infant caused by acetaminophen (paracetamol) toxicity

K Ebenezer1, I Agarwal, D Fleming

  • 1Paediatric Intensive Care Unit, Christian Medical College & Hospital, Vellore, Tamil Nadu, India. picu@cmcvellore.ac.in

Annals of Tropical Paediatrics
|November 22, 2008
PubMed

Insights

Accidental overdose of paracetamol (acetaminophen) led to fatal liver failure in an infant. This highlights the critical need to consider paracetamol toxicity in infant liver injury cases.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Medicine
  • Toxicology
  • Hepatology

Background:

  • Paracetamol (acetaminophen) is a common over-the-counter medication for pain and fever relief in infants.
  • Accurate dosing is crucial to prevent adverse events, especially in young children.

Observation:

  • A 7-month-old infant experienced acute, fatal hepatic failure.
  • The failure was linked to an inadvertent duplication of paracetamol prescriptions, leading to an overdose.

Findings:

  • The infant's death was a direct consequence of paracetamol-induced liver toxicity.
  • This case underscores the severe potential of medication errors in pediatric populations.

Implications:

  • Healthcare providers must exercise extreme caution with paracetamol prescriptions for infants.
  • Paracetamol toxicity should be a key consideration in the differential diagnosis of acute liver failure in infants.

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