title: Methemoglobinemia due to ingestion of at most three pills of pyridium in a 2-year-old: case report and review.
abstract: Pyridium (phenazopyridine HCl) is a commonly prescribed medication in the treatment of urinary tract infections and is known to cause methemoglobinemia in excessive doses. We report the case of a 2-year-old child who ingested a maximum of three 200-mg tablets (approximately 50 mg/kg) of pyridium and yet developed cyanosis and methemoglobinemia (29.1%), resulting in methylene blue therapy. We urge physicians to consider a period of observation (4-6 h) or to obtain methemoglobin levels in children who ingest even a small number of pyridium tablets because this can represent a toxic dose in a small child.
authors.affiliation: Child Protection and Safety Center, Pediatric Emergency Department, St. Joseph's Regional Medical Center, St. Joseph's Children's Hospital, Paterson, New Jersey, USA.
authors.forename: Nina A
authors.initials: NA
authors.lastname: Gold
authors.forename: William G
authors.initials: WG
authors.lastname: Bithoney
mesh_terms: D000779:Anesthetics, Local / Q000506:poisoning*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008708:Methemoglobinemia / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D010621:Phenazopyridine / Q000506:poisoning*
chemical_list: D000779:Anesthetics, Local; D010621:Phenazopyridine