Delirium in an adolescent patient during treatment with cephalexin.
Although cephalosporins are generally safe, they have been reported to cause neurotoxic effects in some subjects. We report on a 16-year-old boy with no previous history of psychiatric illness, who developed symptoms of delirium during treatment of paronychia infection with cephalexin. Possible reasons for our patient's particular vulnerability to adverse drug effects in the central nervous system include his young age, a developmental delay, and an earlier head injury.
Penttilä
Jani
J
Department of Adolescent Psychiatry, Päijät-Häme Central Hospital, Lahti, Finland. japepe@utu.fi
Pasila
Kaarina
K
Tiisala
Anssi
A
Sipiläinen
Pirjo
P
D000293:Adolescent; D002506:Cephalexin / Q000009:adverse effects*; D003693:Delirium / Q000139:chemically induced*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010304:Paronychia / Q000188:drug therapy
D002506:Cephalexin