Acute amoxicillin nephrotoxicity following an overdose.

A 3 year old boy developed acute renal failure following an ingestion of 574 mg/kg of amoxicillin. Accidental ingestions of oral penicillins occur commonly, and are usually considered completely nontoxic. Based on this case, however, the possibility of adverse effects following large oral doses of penicillin-type antibiotics, mediated by allergic hypersensitivity or direct toxicity, should be considered.