Antimalarials--are they safe to use in children?

From 1963 to the present, many reviews of antimalarials for use in dermatology have mentioned the special sensitivity of children to these drugs. Fatal reactions have been limited to accidental or intentional overdosage and two instances of IM injection. While 1 gm of chloroquine can produce fatal reaction in very young children, analysis of published and unpublished cases show that adults exhibit a similar sensitivity when compared on a mg/kg basis. This information should encourage a physician to use antimalarials where appropriate, but special precaution should be taken to prevent poisoning.