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Author Spotlight: Evaluating the Adjuvant Efficacy and Safety of Angong Niuhuang Pill in Viral Encephalitis Treatment
Published on: April 19, 2024
[Encefalopathy as a side effect of metronidazole therapy – a case report]
Marina Karayianni1, Anders von Heijne2, Ann-Charlotte Laska3
1Danderyds Sjukhus AB - Internal medicin Stockholm, Sweden Danderyds Sjukhus AB - Internal medicin Stockholm, Sweden.
Abstract:
Encefalopathy as a side effect of metronidazole therapy - a case report Neurological symptoms as side effects of pharmacological treatment generally tend to remain underdiagnosed. In this report, we present a case of a 79 year old patient that developed encephalopathy whilst undergoing prophylactic treatment with Metronidazole. The initial presentation of disseminated neurological symptoms lead to the suspicion of a cerebrovascular lesion. However, exacerbation of symptomatology with gait disturbance, ataxia and dysarthria challenged the preliminary diagnosis. Brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) demonstrated T2 hyper-intensity over bilateral dentate nuclei. A drug history revealed that the patient had been treated with Metronidazole daily for several weeks due to a surgical condition. Cessation of the drug provided reversal of symptoms and radiological findings upon follow up MRI. This case report aims at increasing awareness regarding side effects of Metronidazole as well as early detection in patients who present with neurological symptoms.
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