Systemic Minoxidil Accidental Exposure in a Pediatric Population: A Case Series Study of Cutaneous and Systemic Side Effects

This study examined the effects of accidental high-dose oral minoxidil exposure in 20 pediatric patients, aged 2 months to 13 years, due to contaminated omeprazole. The primary side effect was hypertrichosis, observed in 65% of patients, primarily on the face, with a mean latency of 24.31 days. Systemic side effects were mild, affecting 15% of patients, with symptoms like diarrhea, anxiety, headache, and facial edema. The study suggested that hypertrichosis was linked to treatment duration rather than dosage, indicating individual variations in response. These findings provided insights into minoxidil's effects in children, potentially informing future pediatric alopecia treatments.