title: Acute Dystonia Versus Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome Without Fever in an Eight-Year-Old Child.
abstract: Neuroleptic malignant syndrome (NMS) is a rare but potentially fatal complication of the use of certain medications. It is being seen more often in the pediatric population because of the increasing use of both typical and atypical antipsychotics in children. Rapid recognition of NMS is important to emergency physicians because timely treatment can be life saving. Acute dystonia is also a well-known and more common adverse effect of certain types of antipsychotics, more commonly seen with the typical antipsychotics versus the atypical antipsychotics. We describe a case of a pediatric patient who developed an acute dystonic reaction versus NMS soon after starting aripiprazole. We compare this case with the other documented cases of acute dystonia and NMS after initiating aripiprazole in the pediatric population.
authors.affiliation: From the *Department of Emergency Medicine, The Western Pennsylvania Hospital; and †Department of Emergency Medicine, Allegheny General Hospital, Pittsburgh, PA.
authors.forename: Rita
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Sridaran
authors.forename: Chadd E
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Nesbit
mesh_terms: D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects*; D000068180:Aripiprazole / Q000009:adverse effects*; D002648:Child; D003620:Dantrolene / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004421:Dystonia / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000188:drug therapy; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009125:Muscle Relaxants, Central / Q000627:therapeutic use; D009459:Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis
chemical_list: D014150:Antipsychotic Agents; D009125:Muscle Relaxants, Central; D000068180:Aripiprazole; D003620:Dantrolene