Citation

Lall SB, Paul R. Indian J. Pediatr. 1998; 65(3): 393-400.

Affiliation

Department of Pharmacology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1998, K C Chaudhuri Foundation and All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Publisher Holtzbrinck Springer Nature Publishing Group)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

10771990

Abstract

Paracetamol (acetaminophen) has become an antipyretic drug of choice. Due to its widespread use, toxicity secondary to overdose has increased in recent years. Children are especially vulnerable to accidental exposure due to non availability of child proof containers in India. The main clinical features of acute toxicity include anorexia, vomiting, abdominal pain, jaundice, hematuria and metabolic acidoses. Diagnosis is based on history and laboratory findings of acidosis and abnormal liver function tests. N-acetylcysteine is the specific antidote. This article reviews in detail the toxicokinetics, pathophysiology, clinical features and management of paracetamol poisoning in children.

Language: en