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Acute pancreatitis due to erythromycin overdose
Marshall Stephen Tenenbein1, Milton Tenenbein
1Department of Pediatrics and Child Health, University of Manitoba, Canada.
Pediatric Emergency Care
|October 11, 2005
Summary
Antibiotic overdose is usually harmless, but this case shows erythromycin overdose can cause pancreatitis. A 15-year-old girl experienced severe pain and elevated lipase after taking too much erythromycin.
Area of Science:
- Toxicology
- Gastroenterology
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Antibiotic overdose is generally considered a low-risk event.
- Erythromycin is a commonly prescribed macrolide antibiotic.
- The potential for severe adverse effects from overdose is often underestimated.
Observation:
- A 15-year-old female presented with severe epigastric pain following a significant erythromycin overdose (5.3 g).
- Physical examination revealed only epigastric tenderness.
- Initial serum lipase levels were markedly elevated at 2024 U/L.
Findings:
- The patient's symptoms and elevated lipase levels were consistent with acute pancreatitis.
- Treatment with intravenous fluids and analgesia led to symptom resolution.
- Serum lipase normalized within 36 hours, indicating a transient condition.
Implications:
- This case highlights transient pancreatitis as a potential complication of erythromycin overdose.
- Clinicians should consider pancreatitis in patients presenting with abdominal pain after erythromycin overdose.
- Further research may be warranted to understand the mechanism and incidence of erythromycin-induced pancreatitis.
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