title: Phenytoin-induced visual disturbances mimicking Delirium Tremens in a child.
abstract: Delirium Tremens is quite rare in children and it is usually caused by withdrawal or abstinence from alcohol, barbiturates and other major tranquilizers. The usual symptoms of Delirium Tremens include severe altered mental status with confusion, delusions, hallucinations, and severe agitation. Although psychosis is a recognized manifestation of Phenytoin toxicity, visual hallucinations are not. This study reports the case of a 4-year-old male with febrile seizures plus syndrome who developed acute complex visual hallucinations and psychomotor agitation early after therapy with intravenous Phenytoin was administered. These visual hallucinations mimicked those linked to Delirium Tremens and were not associated with an encephalopathy or other known neuropsychiatric side effects of this drug. Moreover, the hallucinations occurred while serum Phenytoin concentrations were below therapeutic range. We made an extensive investigation in order to exclude a non-convulsive Status Epilepticus, a Central Nervous System infection, a metabolic disorder, an underlying psychiatric disease and a possible drug toxicity. The temporal relationship between initiation of Phenytoin and onset of visual hallucinations and resolution of symptoms with withdrawal of Phenytoin suggests that the visual disturbances were probably due to that antiepileptic drug.
authors: Department of Pediatric Neurology, Hospital Infantil Universitario Niño Jesús, Avda Menéndez Pelayo 65, 20009 Madrid, Spain.
authors: Laura López
authors: LL
authors: Marín
authors: Juan José
authors: JJ
authors: García-Peñas
authors: Julian Lara
authors: JL
authors: Herguedas
authors: Luis González
authors: LG
authors: Gutiérrez-Solana
authors: Mariluz
authors: M
authors: Ruiz-Falcó
authors: Anna Duat
authors: AD
authors: Rodriguez
authors: Verónica Cantarín
authors: VC
authors: Extremera
mesh_terms: D000430:Alcohol Withdrawal Delirium / Q000503:physiopathology*; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000009:adverse effects*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D006212:Hallucinations / Q000139:chemically induced*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D062550:NAV1.1 Voltage-Gated Sodium Channel; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D010672:Phenytoin / Q000009:adverse effects*; D012640:Seizures / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000235:genetics; D015222:Sodium Channels / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D000927:Anticonvulsants; D062550:NAV1.1 Voltage-Gated Sodium Channel; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; C568242:SCN1A protein, human; D015222:Sodium Channels; D010672:Phenytoin