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Hypoglycemia in pediatric sulfonylurea poisoning: an 8-year poison center retrospective study

Derrick D Lung1, Kent R Olson

  • 1Department of Clinical Pharmacy, University of California, San Francisco, California, USA. derricklung@gmail.com

Pediatrics
|May 25, 2011
PubMed

Insights

Pediatric sulfonylurea poisoning can cause delayed hypoglycemia, with onset up to 18 hours after ingestion. Seizures occurred in severe, unrecognized cases.

Area of Science:

  • Toxicology
  • Pediatric Emergency Medicine
  • Pharmacology

Background:

  • Sulfonylurea medications are commonly prescribed for type 2 diabetes.
  • Accidental ingestion in children can lead to significant hypoglycemia.
  • Understanding the time course of hypoglycemia is crucial for effective management.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To characterize the clinical effects of sulfonylurea poisoning in pediatric patients.
  • To determine the time of onset and duration of hypoglycemia following ingestion.

Main Methods:

  • Retrospective, descriptive study of pediatric sulfonylurea exposures (<6 years old).
  • Data collected from California Poison Control System consultations (2002-2009).
  • Included cases with documented hypoglycemia (glucose <60 mg/dL).

Main Results:

  • 300 out of 1943 pediatric exposures resulted in hypoglycemia.
  • Hypoglycemia persisted for ≥12 hours in 10% of cases.
  • Prophylactic measures (food, IV glucose) delayed hypoglycemia onset up to 18 hours.

Conclusions:

  • Pediatric sulfonylurea poisoning can lead to severe hypoglycemia and seizures.
  • Delayed onset of hypoglycemia is possible, even with treatment.
  • Prompt recognition and management are vital to prevent severe outcomes.
Abstract

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