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Case Reports
. 2020 Feb 11;13(2):e234029.
doi: 10.1136/bcr-2019-234029.

Unintentional overdose of hyoscine hydrobromide in a young child

Gerd Xuereb  1 , Thomas Calleja  2 , Janine Borg  2 , David Pace  2
Affiliations
Case Reports

Unintentional overdose of hyoscine hydrobromide in a young child

Gerd Xuereb et al. BMJ Case Rep. .

Corrected and republished in

Abstract

A 4-year-old girl presented with confusion, ataxia and hallucinations 3 hours after an accidental overdose of 108 μg per kg of hyoscine hydrobromide (Kwells Kids). She was hypotensive and tachycardic at presentation. Investigations revealed QTc prolongation on ECG. The girl was admitted for observation overnight and was noted to have persistent visual and auditory hallucinations, which resolved without treatment. To our knowledge, this is the first reported case of an overdose of hyoscine hydrobromide at such a young age. Clinicians should be aware that unintentional ingestions in this age group may present with psychiatric manifestations. Hyoscine hydrobromide is easily accessible and available over the counter. It has serious consequences in overdose. Its packaging and appearance are attractive to young children making it susceptible to unintentional ingestions. We argue that its container should be altered to be more childproof.

Keywords: Safety; Toxicology; Unwanted effects/adverse reactions; paediatrics; pharmacology and therapeutics.

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Conflict of interest statement

Competing interests: None declared.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
ECG at presentation showing QTc prolongation. aVF, Augmented Vector Foot; aVL, Augmented Vector Left; aVR, Augmented Vector Right; P, P wave; PR, interval; QRSD, QRS duration; QT, QT interval; QTcB, QTc corrected by Bazett's; QRS, QRS complex; RR, RR interval; T, T wave.
Figure 2
Figure 2
ECG taken 12 hours postingestion, showing QTc normalisation. aVF, Augmented Vector Foot; aVL, Augmented Vector Left; aVR, Augmented Vector Right; P, P wave; PR, interval; QRSD, QRS duration; QT, QT interval; QTcB, QTc corrected by Bazett's; QRS, QRS complex; RR, RR interval; T, T wave.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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