Syed Faizul Hassan Rizvi, Shukat Ali Rao.
Sudden Cardiac death in a child while on Halofantrine treatment - A case report.
Pak J Cardiol Jan ;10(2-3):78-9.

A six-year-old boy, weighing 12kg, was admitted in CCU with history of palpitation and tonic fits. Two days back he developed fever and vomiting and consulted a local child specialist, who prescribed him halfan because blood smear for malarial parasites was positive. After taking halfan in three divided does fever settled but lie suddenly developed palpitation and tonic fits. 12 leads ECG was carried out at his home town showing prolonged QT interval (0.60sec) with runs of ventricular tachycardia. No past history of palpitation, fits and syncopate attack and there was nothing ravalent in the family history. On admission lie was irritable, restless, dehydrated with acidotic breathing. Pulse was fast thready, not countable. Immediately IV line maintained, blood sample was drawn for blood sugar, BUN, creatinine and electrolytes. 12 lead ECG done showing fast ventricular tachycardia leading to hemodynamic instability. Immediately cardioversion was done with pediatric paddles, sinus rhythm was restored on monitor. Rhythm remained sinus for some time with frequent runs of PVC`s. Child again developed sustained ventricular tachycardia. Inj. inderal 0.l mg/kg body weight was slowly infused upto maximal dose of 0.5mg. Repeat cardioversion carried out, normal sinus rhythm maintained. At 5 a.m. child`s condition again deteriorated, monitor showing recurrent sustained ventricular tachycardia (Torsades de points) ending in ventricular fibrillation which could not be resuscitated successfully and child expired.

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