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Traditional treatment of acetaminophen overdose includes gastrointestinal decontamination. Because the way young children metabolize the drug seems to protect them from the consequences of acetaminophen poisoning, these investigators from a U.S. poison control center (PCC) prospectively followed children (who did not undergo any decontamination) for symptoms of hepatotoxicity.
A total of 1039 children younger than 7 years (average age, 2.3 years) who had been exposed to a maximum acetaminophen dose of 200 mg/kg were enrolled. Exclusion criteria included gastrointestinal decontamination before the initial PCC call, possible ingestion of sustained-release preparations, and signs of acetaminophen toxicity at the time of the call. Exposures rang…