Accidental digitoxin poisoning

A healthy 141/2-month-old child ingested 1.5 mg of digitoxin by accident. Digitoxin was wrongly identified as digoxin, the initial electrocardiogram was misinterpreted, and the vomiting was underestimated as an important symptom of toxicity. Symptoms persisted and the patient was hospitalized. Seria...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inAmerican journal of diseases of children (1960) Vol. 130; no. 4; p. 425
Main Author Iacuone, J J
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published United States 01.04.1976
Subjects
Absorption
Diagnosis, Differential
Diagnostic Errors
Digitoxin - blood
Digitoxin - metabolism
Digitoxin - poisoning
Digoxin - blood
Digoxin - metabolism
Electrocardiography
Female
Humans
Infant
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Summary:A healthy 141/2-month-old child ingested 1.5 mg of digitoxin by accident. Digitoxin was wrongly identified as digoxin, the initial electrocardiogram was misinterpreted, and the vomiting was underestimated as an important symptom of toxicity. Symptoms persisted and the patient was hospitalized. Serial digitoxin levels were obtained and correlated with ECG and clinical course. It appears that serial digitoxin levels can be a useful adjunct in diagnosis, assessment of severity, and indication of recovery from digitoxin poisoning. In each patient, it is imperative that ECG, pharmacologic, and clinical indicators of digitalis toxicity be accurately identified for proper assessment of severity and appropriate management.
ISSN:0002-922X
DOI:10.1001/archpedi.1976.02120050083016