Hypoglycemia With Salicylate Poisoning

Abstract

The possible causal association of hypoglycemia in patients with salicylism has recently been emphasized by Mortimer and Lepow.¹ They reported four deaths in infants less than 7 months of age in whom the severe hypoglycemia was believed to be related to salicylate ingestion. They also showed that severe hypoglycemia can be produced by feeding salicylates to a starved animal. This paper reports two infants who developed severe hypoglycemia apparently secondary to salicylate poisoning; both of the children survived. Report of Cases Case 1.—A 10-month-old white girl was admitted to the hospital because of lethargy and vasomotor collapse. Three days prior to admission, she developed a fever associated with a mild upper respiratory infection. She was treated with aspirin, two 1¼ grain (75 mg) tablets being given during her waking hours every four hours over the next three days. A total of 35 grains (2,250 mg) was consumed. The last