CHLOROQUINE POISONING - VENTRICULAR-FIBRILLATION FOLLOWING TRIVIAL OVERDOSE IN A CHILD

A 13-year-old boy was admitted to hospital 45 min after the ingestion of approximately 750 mg of chloroquine base. A few minutes after gastric lavage with warm water he developed ventricular fibrillation from which he was promptly resuscitated. The plasma concentration of chloroquine was 4.2-mu-mol/l; significantly lower than the concentrations previously associated with a fatal otucome in adults. The clinical and electrocardiographic effects of chloroquine poisoning are discussed, and the literature reviewed regarding the role of specific management with diazepam and adrenaline infusions. A period of twenty four hours electrocardiographic (ECG) monitoring and pulse oxiemtry in an intensive care unit is adovacated for all patient with ECG changes following chloroquine overdose.