title: Cardiotoxic effects of astemizole overdose in children.
abstract: Astemizole, a nonsedating antihistamine, caused a prolonged corrected QT interval, ventricular dysrhythmias, and atrioventricular heart block after overdose in five children. Cardiotoxic effects lasted an average of 2 1/2 days. Children poisoned with astemizole need emergent medical evaluation, a 12-lead electrocardiogram with calculation of the corrected QT interval, and continuous cardiac monitoring for 24 hours.
authors.affiliation: Section of General Pediatrics, St. Christopher's Hospital for Children, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
authors.forename: J F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Wiley
authors.forename: M L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Gelber
authors.forename: F M
authors.initials: FM
authors.lastname: Henretig
authors.forename: C C
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Wiley
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sandhu
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Loiselle
mesh_terms: D001145:Arrhythmias, Cardiac / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000175:diagnosis; D016589:Astemizole / Q000506:poisoning*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004562:Electrocardiography; D006327:Heart Block / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000175:diagnosis; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male
chemical_list: D016589:Astemizole