title: Sudden onset methaemoglobinaemia in a previously well Ugandan child: a case report and literature review.
abstract: Methaemoglobinaemia is a rare condition of unknown prevalence. Diagnostic tests in resource limited settings are very rare but clinical signs can be a good guide. We set out to describe a case of Methaemoglobinaemia, raise awareness among practitioners in resource limited settings and to share experiences in its diagnosis and management. A previously well three and a half year old girl was admitted with central cyanosis of sudden onset. She underwent clinical, laboratory and radiological evaluation. Having been in a resource limited setting, the process of making a diagnosis was slow and difficult. After the diagnosis, the treatment was not available in the country but we managed to get it all the way from Nairobi, Kenya. A diagnosis of Methaemoglobinaemia was made using Spectrophotometry and she was successfully treated using 2 doses of intravenous Methylene blue. The cause of Methaemoglobinaemia was established to have been nitrites from food preservatives.
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, Makerere University, College of Health Sciences and Mulago National Referral Hospital, Kampala, Uganda.
authors.forename: Nicolette
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Nabukeera-Barungi
authors.forename: Edison
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Mworozi
mesh_terms: D017668:Age of Onset; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D005506:Food Contamination; D006262:Health; D006801:Humans; D008708:Methemoglobinemia / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D008751:Methylene Blue / Q000008:administration & dosage; D009573:Nitrites / Q000633:toxicity; D014454:Uganda / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D009573:Nitrites; D008751:Methylene Blue