Side Effects Of Isoniazid In Children

Tuberculosis as a disease caused by the bacteria known as Mycobacterium tuberculosis. It most commonly affects the lungs, but the bacteria may also infect other parts of the body, such as the brain, the heart, the bones, or even the skin. Children with tuberculosis need to take a combination of antibiotics for several months; one of these antibiotics is isoniazid. According to the medical database UpToDate, isoniazid is generally a well-tolerated medication; side effects in children are rare.

Liver Enzyme Changes

One of the most common side effects of isoniazid in children is a temporary increase in certain liver enzymes called transaminases. UpToDate estimates that between 3 and 10 percent of children will have this transient elevation.

Local Site Reactions

Local site reactions can also occur in children; these are skin reactions at the site of the injection. A local reaction generally involves redness, swelling, and pain at the injection site; these are temporary symptoms that should subside shortly after the injection.

Seizures and Nerve Damage

While seizures are quite rare in children taking isoniazid, they are a serious possible side effect that should be considered. MicroMedex discusses several case reports of children that were on isoniazid and suffered seizures as a result of the medication; fortunately, these resolved when anticonvulsant medication was given. Another possible, though rare, side effect of isoniazid in children is that of peripheral neuropathy. This is nerve damage in the arms and legs that may lead to sensations of numbness, pain, and tingling in the arms and legs. It is a common side effect in adults, but occurs only rarely in children taking isoniazid.

Rashes

The medical reference UpToDate lists several types of rashes that children taking isoniazid may experience. According to the pharmacology reference MicroMedex, these are rare, occurring in only 2 percent of patients. An acne-like rash may occur in children exposed to isoniazid, as is a measles-like rash called a moribilliform eruption. Rarely, children taking isoniazid may develop a life-threatening skin reaction called Stevens-Johnson syndrome.

Nausea and Vomiting

As with many other medications, nausea and vomiting may occur as side effects of taking isoniazid. In children, vomiting is more concerning than with adults because children tend to become dehydrated more quickly than adults.