title: The Beef Jerky Blues: Methemoglobinemia From Home Cured Meat.
abstract: Methemoglobinemia can result from ingestion of nitrite- or nitrate-containing foods. Here, we report a case where an adolescent girl and her father developed clinically significant methemoglobinemia after ingestion of "homemade" beef jerky prepared with sodium nitrate salt purchased at a local grocery store. Both had palpitations, dyspnea, and visible mucosal cyanosis. The daughter had a methemoglobin level of 44.2% and the father's methemoglobin level was 34.2%. Prompt recognition of methemoglobinemia is important for initiating antidotal therapy with methylene blue.
authors.forename: Jillian L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Theobald
authors.affiliation: Emergency Health Partners, Muskegon, MI.
authors.forename: Rachel
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Spoelhof
authors.affiliation: Illinois Poison Center.
authors.forename: Erin M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Pallasch
authors.affiliation: Department of Emergency Medicine, Cook County Hospital, Chicago, IL.
authors.forename: Mark B
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Mycyk
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008706:Methemoglobin / Q000032:analysis; D008708:Methemoglobinemia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology*; D008751:Methylene Blue / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009566:Nitrates / Q000009:adverse effects*; D000069466:Red Meat
chemical_list: D009566:Nitrates; C031618:sodium nitrate; D008706:Methemoglobin; D008751:Methylene Blue