Chloroquine overdose and toxicity : a report on seven fatal cases in children in Northern Iraq

Abstract EN

Seven cases involving children with fatal chloroquine poisoning in the age range from five to nine years were reported in the northern part of Iraq (the endemic malarial areas around-the city of Mosul).

They developed signs of toxicity shortly after they had been given chloroquine in a toxic dose (an average of 37.39 mg/kg as a single dose) for treatment of malaria.

The cases included those who were referred to the Emergency Department at Ibn Seena Teaching Hospital in Mosul and the Forensic Medicine Department in addition to those who died at home and were reported by parents.

In view of the acute symptoms that developed shortly, within two to three hours, after receiving relatively high doses of chloroquine, we concluded that all these children died as a result of inappropriate doses of the drug.

The objective of the present study is to highlight the potential dangers of chloroquine overdose in children.