Hypothermia and phenytoin toxicity: a case report

Area of Science:

• Neurology
• Clinical Toxicology

Background:

• Phenytoin is an anticonvulsant medication commonly used to treat epilepsy.
• Phenytoin toxicity can lead to a range of adverse effects, often neurological.
• Recognizing atypical presentations of phenytoin toxicity is crucial for timely diagnosis and management.

Observation:

• A case study is presented involving a patient with phenytoin toxicity.
• The patient exhibited symptoms that were subtle and atypical.
• The sole manifestation of toxicity in this case was hypothermia.

Findings:

• This is the first reported case of phenytoin toxicity presenting solely as hypothermia.
• Hypothermia can be an underrecognized sign of phenytoin overdose.
• The study highlights the diverse and sometimes unexpected clinical manifestations of phenytoin toxicity.

Implications:

• Clinicians should consider phenytoin toxicity in patients presenting with unexplained hypothermia, even without typical neurological signs.
• This case expands the spectrum of known phenytoin toxicity symptoms.
• Awareness of this presentation can improve patient outcomes by facilitating earlier diagnosis and intervention.