Failure to diagnose the milk-alkali syndrome.
A case of recurrent hypercalcaemia due to chronic continuous ingestion of a calcium-containing antacid is described in whom the diagnosis was delayed because of an insufficiently detailed drug history. Specific named enquiry must be made of all the various calcium-containing drugs when seeking a history of excessive calcium intake if the diagnosis of the milk-alkali syndrome is not to be missed.
D000863:Antacids / Q000009:adverse effects*; D002119:Calcium Carbonate / Q000009:adverse effects*; D003951:Diagnostic Errors; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006934:Hypercalcemia / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000175:diagnosis*; D008487:Medical History Taking; D008875:Middle Aged
D000863:Antacids; D002119:Calcium Carbonate