Methemoglobinemia after ingestion of Chinese herbal medicine in a 9-day-old infant.
Traditional Chinese Medicine has long been popular among Chinese people, but it is always difficult for physicians to ascertain the nature and use of different ingredients involved. We report case of a 9-day-old infant who ingested home-made herbal medicine and developed cyanosis with methemoglobinemia. He responded to a single dose of methylene blue therapy. The suspected causative agent identified in the herbal medicine was sulfamethazine. This is the first reported case of methemoglobinemia related to the use of Chinese herbal medicine in the newborn period.
Chan
Bosco
B
Department of Paediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Princess Margaret Hospital, Hong Kong SAR, People's Republic of China. chbosco@netvigator.com
Ui
Lee Qun
LQ
Ming
Tang Po
TP
Lai
C K
CK
Chan
B Y
BY
Poon
W T
WT
Chan
Albert
A
Bong
Chow Chun
CC
D000931:Antidotes / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003490:Cyanosis / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008708:Methemoglobinemia / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy; D008751:Methylene Blue / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000931:Antidotes; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D008751:Methylene Blue