Serotonin Syndrome after Sertraline Overdose in a Child: A Case Report
Serotonin syndrome is a potentially life-threatening drug effect. It may be misdiagnosed because it has mostly been reported in adults. Case Report. An 8-year-old girl with behavioral problems and medicated with risperidone and sertraline was admitted in the emergency department after she had taken...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Wiley
2013-01-01
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| Series: | Case Reports in Pediatrics |
| Online Access: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2013/897902 |
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| author | Joana Grenha Ana Garrido Hernani Brito Maria José Oliveira Fátima Santos |
| author_facet | Joana Grenha Ana Garrido Hernani Brito Maria José Oliveira Fátima Santos |
| author_sort | Joana Grenha |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Serotonin syndrome is a potentially life-threatening drug effect. It may be misdiagnosed because it has mostly been reported in adults. Case Report. An 8-year-old girl with behavioral problems and medicated with risperidone and sertraline was admitted in the emergency department after she had taken voluntarily 1500 mg of sertraline (50 mg/kg). At admission, she had marked agitation, visual hallucinations, diaphoresis, flushing, and tremor. She had fever and periods of hypertension. She also showed generalized rigidity and involuntary movements. She was treated with fluids and iv diazepam, midazolam, clemastine, and biperiden. As the patient presented a severe insomnia and a progressive rhabdomyolysis, she was transferred to pediatric intensive care unit (ICU), where she was under treatment with cyproheptadine, mechanical ventilation, and muscular paralysis for 11 days. She was discharged from hospital a few days later with no neurological sequelae. Conclusions. Serotonin syndrome is still not well recognized by physicians. In our patient, the diagnosis was made early due to the history of overdose with serotonin reuptake inhibitors and the triad of mental, neurological, and autonomic signs. Parents must be educated to prevent children from having free access to drugs, avoiding self-medication or overdose. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-3e0ef0d1de394c57a413f94e9393f0ef |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2090-6803 2090-6811 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2013-01-01 |
| publisher | Wiley |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Case Reports in Pediatrics |
| spelling | doaj-art-3e0ef0d1de394c57a413f94e9393f0ef2025-02-03T07:25:36ZengWileyCase Reports in Pediatrics2090-68032090-68112013-01-01201310.1155/2013/897902897902Serotonin Syndrome after Sertraline Overdose in a Child: A Case ReportJoana Grenha0Ana Garrido1Hernani Brito2Maria José Oliveira3Fátima Santos4Department of Pediatrics, Centro Hospitalar de Vila Nova de Gaia e Espinho, EPE, Rua Doutor Francisco Sá Carneiro 4400-129 Vila Nova de Gaia, PortugalDepartment of Pediatrics, Centro Hospitalar de Vila Nova de Gaia e Espinho, EPE, Rua Doutor Francisco Sá Carneiro 4400-129 Vila Nova de Gaia, PortugalDepartment of Pediatrics, Centro Hospitalar do Médio Ave, EPE, Largo Domingos Moreira 4780-371 Santo Tirso, PortugalPediatric Intensive Care Unit, Centro Hospitalar de São João, EPE, Alameda Prof. Hernâni Monteiro, 4200-319 Porto, PortugalDepartment of Pediatrics, Centro Hospitalar de Vila Nova de Gaia e Espinho, EPE, Rua Doutor Francisco Sá Carneiro 4400-129 Vila Nova de Gaia, PortugalSerotonin syndrome is a potentially life-threatening drug effect. It may be misdiagnosed because it has mostly been reported in adults. Case Report. An 8-year-old girl with behavioral problems and medicated with risperidone and sertraline was admitted in the emergency department after she had taken voluntarily 1500 mg of sertraline (50 mg/kg). At admission, she had marked agitation, visual hallucinations, diaphoresis, flushing, and tremor. She had fever and periods of hypertension. She also showed generalized rigidity and involuntary movements. She was treated with fluids and iv diazepam, midazolam, clemastine, and biperiden. As the patient presented a severe insomnia and a progressive rhabdomyolysis, she was transferred to pediatric intensive care unit (ICU), where she was under treatment with cyproheptadine, mechanical ventilation, and muscular paralysis for 11 days. She was discharged from hospital a few days later with no neurological sequelae. Conclusions. Serotonin syndrome is still not well recognized by physicians. In our patient, the diagnosis was made early due to the history of overdose with serotonin reuptake inhibitors and the triad of mental, neurological, and autonomic signs. Parents must be educated to prevent children from having free access to drugs, avoiding self-medication or overdose.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2013/897902 |
| spellingShingle | Joana Grenha Ana Garrido Hernani Brito Maria José Oliveira Fátima Santos Serotonin Syndrome after Sertraline Overdose in a Child: A Case Report Case Reports in Pediatrics |
| title | Serotonin Syndrome after Sertraline Overdose in a Child: A Case Report |
| title_full | Serotonin Syndrome after Sertraline Overdose in a Child: A Case Report |
| title_fullStr | Serotonin Syndrome after Sertraline Overdose in a Child: A Case Report |
| title_full_unstemmed | Serotonin Syndrome after Sertraline Overdose in a Child: A Case Report |
| title_short | Serotonin Syndrome after Sertraline Overdose in a Child: A Case Report |
| title_sort | serotonin syndrome after sertraline overdose in a child a case report |
| url | http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2013/897902 |
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