A case with theophylline intoxication

Theophylline is an agent used in the treatment of obstructive airway diseases. It has a risk of intoxication with serum concentrations higher than 15 μg/mL. A seven-year-old female patient presented with complaints of vomiting and headache. She had tachycardia and other physical examination findings were found to be normal. We were informed that she ingested 10 tablets named Bronkolin each containing 300 mg theophylline. Her serum theophylline levels were found to be >40 μg/ml (normal range: 10-20 μg/ml). She was monitorized and received charcoal, potassium supplementation and intravenous fluid. Her serum theophylline declined to 3.1 μg/ml and she was discharged. With this case presentation we wanted to emphasize that the possibility of drug intoxication should be considered in presence of hyperglycemia, hypopotassemia and tachycardia with accompanying symptoms including acute and unexplained vomiting and headache. (Turk Arch Ped 2013; 48: 55-6)