Massachusetts Medical Society

Abstract

TOXIC HAZARDS*Aminophylline Poisoning†Aminophylline is a very useful drug in the treatment of bronchial and cardiac asthma, both in children and in adults. Toxic symptoms are seen in children as a result of both accidental ingestion and excessive therapeutic doses. They are more frequent in pediatrics because the preparations available today contain considerably more aminophylline than the amount recommended for infants and small children. The following fatal case from the Children's Medical Center, Boston, is an example of a therapeutic overdose:D. B., a 3-year-old boy with recurrent attacks of asthma, was admitted to the hospital because of vomiting . . .