Abstract
The widely published schedule for the treatment of cyanide poisoning by the nitrite thiosulfate method of Chen is based on adult work and is potentially lethal for children under 25 kg in weight. Unless a dose of sodium nitrite appropriate for the amount of hemoglobin in the child is chosen, lethal methemoglobinemia may result. The dose of NaNO2 for children with a hemoglobin of 12 gm/100 ml is 10 mg/kg per body weight immediately and 5 mg/kg repeated within 30 minutes if necessary.