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Beware of Phenytoin Self-Harm In Children
Address for correspondence: Dr. Jayantee Kalita, Department of Neurology, Sanjay Gandhi Postgraduate Institute of Medical Sciences, Raebareily Road, Lucknow - 226 014, Uttar Pradesh, India. E-mail: jayanteek@yahoo.com
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This article was originally published by Medknow Publications & Media Pvt Ltd and was migrated to Scientific Scholar after the change of Publisher.
Sir,
Antiepileptic drug (AED) poisoning usually occurs in the individuals who are on AEDs either as an attempt to suicide or self-harm. There are several reports of phenytoin toxicity because of its narrow therapeutic window. Phenytoin toxicity in children usually occurs as an overdose of treatment of epilepsy or following high dose of intravenous (IV) therapy for status epilepticus.[123] There is, however, no report on phenytoin poisoning as an attempt of suicide or self-harm. In this communication, we report a child with phenytoin poisoning as a result of self-harm.
A 2-year-old boy got angry while playing and locked himself in a room. His parents requested him to open the door. They saw him opening the bottle and consuming all the tablets of phenytoin which was kept for his elder sister who is suffering from focal epilepsy. Parents have broken the door and took out some of the leftover tablets from his mouth and rushed to nearby hospital. His blood analysis and electrolytes were normal. He was treated with IV fluid and Ryle's tube feeding for 7 days in the local hospital. He was referred to us because of persistent altered sensorium and abnormal movements of all the four limbs. On examination, he had fever (102°F) and his blood pressure was 100/70 mmHg and pulse 140/m regular. His Glasgow Coma Scale score was 9. Pupils were reactive. He had choreiform movements of all four limbs including tongue [Video 1a]. Tendon reflexes were diminished, but planter responses were extensor. His complete blood counts, kidney, liver and thyroid function tests, and serum electrolytes were normal. His electrocardiogram was normal and electroencephalography revealed diffuse delta slowing. He was treated with IV normal saline, ceftriaxone 250 mg 12 hourly, and folic acid 5 mg daily. His consciousness and chorea started improving by the 4th day. On the 6th day, he started walking with support when he was found to have ataxia [Video 1b]. He was discharged on 15th day when he was conscious, chorea disappeared but had ataxia. At 1-month follow-up, the child was normal.
Video available on: www.ruralneuropractice.com
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The authors certify that they have obtained all appropriate patient consent forms. In the form the patient(s) has/have given his/her/their consent for his/her/their images and other clinical information to be reported in the journal. The patients understand that their names and initials will not be published and due efforts will be made to conceal their identity, but anonymity cannot be guaranteed.
Financial support and sponsorship
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Conflicts of interest
There are no conflicts of interest.
Acknowledgment
We would like to thank Mr. Shakti Kumar for secretarial help.
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