Reactions 1407 - 23 Jun 2012

O STheophylline overdose

Persisent nausea and vomiting in an adolescent:case report

A 15-year-old girl experienced persistent nausea andvomiting resistant to antiemetics following an intentionaloverdose with theophylline.

The girl presented in a conscious state 1 hour after taking15 theophylline 300mg tablets [route not stated] in a failedsuicide attempt. Physical examination revealed tachycardiaand tachypnoea. Fluid replacement therapy was initiatedand her stomach was pumped alongside administration ofactivated charcoal. The theophylline level was not able tobe ascertained. Persistent nausea and vomiting was treatedfirst with IV metoclopramide then IV ondansetron althoughshe did not respond to either therapy. Haemodialysis wassubsequently initiated during the sixth hour of heradmission. Laboratory findings prior to dialysis revealedboth hypoglycaemia and hypokalaemia. Potassiumsupplementation was thus instituted before and duringdialysis.

The girl’s nausea and vomiting ceased afterhaemodialysis, subsequently followed by stabilisation ofvital signs and normalisation of laboratory results. She wasdischarged on the third day of her admission followingpsychiatric assessment.Acikalin A, et al. Theophylline poisoning: Haemodialysis or haemoperfusion.Akademik Acil Tip Olgu Sunumlari Dergisi 2: 39-41, No. 3, 2011. Available from:URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.5505/jaemcr.2011.87587 [Turkish; summarised from atranslation] - Turkey 803072157

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Reactions 23 Jun 2012 No. 14070114-9954/10/1407-0001/$14.95 Adis © 2010 Springer International Publishing AG. All rights reserved