title: Severe methemoglobinemia due to food intoxication in infants.
abstract: The purpose of this case report is to illustrate food intoxication in infants as a consequence of fennel ingestion. Four cases of methemoglobinemia (MetHb) are presented here. Each patient ate homemade fennel purée a few hours prior to arriving to the emergency department with cyanosis unresponsive to oxygen, in the absence of suspected cyanotic heart disease. All 4 patients received treatment with methylene blue and fully recovered. Our cases emphasize that improper handling and storing of vegetables can lead to life-threatening MetHb.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire, Lausanne, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Anne-Joëlle Bosset
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Murone
authors.forename: Pascal
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Stucki
authors.forename: Mark G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Roback
authors.forename: Mario
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gehri
mesh_terms: D003490:Cyanosis / Q000209:etiology; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D030001:Foeniculum / Q000506:poisoning*; D005517:Foodborne Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008708:Methemoglobinemia / Q000209:etiology*; D008751:Methylene Blue / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010939:Plant Poisoning / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis*
chemical_list: D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D008751:Methylene Blue