An Evidence-Based Review Of Single Pills And Swallows That Can Kill A Child

Eldridge, David L. MD
Mutter, Katherine W. MD
Holstege, Christopher P. MD, FAAEM, FACEP, FACMT
Pauze, Denis R. MD
Sharieff, Ghazala MD

¹Authors
²Assistant Professor, Department of Pediatrics, Brody School of Medicine, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC
³Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, VA
⁴Director, Division of Medical Toxicology; Associate Professor, Departments of Emergency Medicine and Pediatrics, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, VA
⁵Peer Reviewers
⁶Physician, Inova Fairfax Hospital, Falls Church, Virginia; Clinical Assistant Professor, The George Washington University Medical Center, Washington, DC
⁷Division Director/Clinical Professor Rady Children's Hospital Emergency Care Center/University of California, San Diego; Director of Pediatric Emergency Medicine, California Emergency Physicians, San Diego, CA

Date of original release: March 1, 2010

Date of most recent review: February 10, 2010

Termination date: March 1, 2013

Medium: Print and Online

Method of participation: Print or online answer form and evaluation

Prior to beginning this activity, see “Physician CME Information” on the back page.

Pediatric Emergency Medicine Practice 7(3):p 1-14, March 2010.

Just as you start your shift, a toddler is brought into the pediatric ED. An hour earlier he had ingested a single tablet of his grandmother's glipizide. The child is asymptomatic, shows no signs of distress, and is playful. On initial fingerstick his blood glucose is 95 mg/dL. The nursing staff reminds you that you have a full waiting room, the hospital has no beds, and the mother is eager to leave because the boy's older sibling will be getting home from school within the hour.