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Development of pyloric stenosis after a 4-day course of oral erythromycin

Luis E Lozada1, Matthew J Royall, Cade M Nylund

  • 1Department of Pediatrics, F. Edward Hebert School of Medicine, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, MD 20814, USA.

Pediatric Emergency Care
|April 6, 2013
PubMed

Insights

Early erythromycin exposure in infants, even for a short duration, is linked to hypertrophic pyloric stenosis. This case highlights the risk of this serious condition, even after brief neonatal antibiotic use.

Area of Science:

  • Neonatal Medicine
  • Pediatric Surgery
  • Pharmacology

Background:

  • Oral erythromycin use in neonates has been associated with hypertrophic pyloric stenosis (HPS).
  • HPS is a condition causing gastric outlet obstruction in infants.

Observation:

  • A case report details an infant receiving a 4-day course of oral erythromycin at 5 days old for suspected Chlamydia conjunctivitis.
  • The infant later required a pyloromyotomy for HPS less than two weeks after erythromycin exposure.

Findings:

  • Even abbreviated exposure to oral erythromycin in early infancy can lead to the development of HPS.
  • A short course of erythromycin may be sufficient to trigger this surgical condition.

Implications:

  • Healthcare providers should exercise caution when prescribing erythromycin to neonates.
  • Judicious use of erythromycin is recommended due to the potential for serious gastrointestinal complications like HPS.

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