E-ISSN 2534-9821
 

Case Report

Online Publishing Date:
27 / 12 / 2021

 


Metronidazole – common drug, rare complication. A case of metronidazole induced encephalopathy and cerebellar ataxia

Vishal Chandra Sharma, Anisha Umashankar.


Abstract
Metronidazole is a nitroimidazole, anti-protozoal and anti-anaerobic antibiotic and is a very commonly used drug for the treatment of infections like amoebiasis, giardiasis, and trichomonas infection. The common adverse effects include nausea, vomiting, metallic taste, however rarely do patients on high and prolonged doses of metronidazole develop neurological complications like peripheral neuropathy, cerebellar ataxia, encephalopathy. We present a case of a patient who presented with abdominal symptoms and was diagnosed to have an amoebic liver abscess for which he was started on metronidazole. The patient developed encephalopathy and ataxia. MRI brain showed bilateral T2 hyperintensities in the dentate nucleus of the cerebellum, a characteristic feature of metronidazole induced injury. On stopping metronidazole patient symptoms improved and completely resolved in two weeks at follow up. It is essential to consider metronidazole as a cause for patients on long term, high dose therapy presenting with neurological symptoms.

Key words: Encephalopathy, Metronidazole, ataxia


 
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How to Cite this Article
Pubmed Style

Sharma VC, Umashankar A. Metronidazole – common drug, rare complication. A case of metronidazole induced encephalopathy and cerebellar ataxia. Int J Med Rev Case Rep. 2021; 5(12): 38-39. doi:10.5455/IJMRCR.Metronidazolecommondrugrarecomplication.


Web Style

Sharma VC, Umashankar A. Metronidazole – common drug, rare complication. A case of metronidazole induced encephalopathy and cerebellar ataxia. https://www.mdpub.net/?mno=130275 [Access: April 04, 2024]. doi:10.5455/IJMRCR.Metronidazolecommondrugrarecomplication.


AMA (American Medical Association) Style

Sharma VC, Umashankar A. Metronidazole – common drug, rare complication. A case of metronidazole induced encephalopathy and cerebellar ataxia. Int J Med Rev Case Rep. 2021; 5(12): 38-39. doi:10.5455/IJMRCR.Metronidazolecommondrugrarecomplication.



Vancouver/ICMJE Style

Sharma VC, Umashankar A. Metronidazole – common drug, rare complication. A case of metronidazole induced encephalopathy and cerebellar ataxia. Int J Med Rev Case Rep. (2021), [cited April 04, 2024]; 5(12): 38-39. doi:10.5455/IJMRCR.Metronidazolecommondrugrarecomplication.



Harvard Style

Sharma, V. C. & Umashankar, . A. (2021) Metronidazole – common drug, rare complication. A case of metronidazole induced encephalopathy and cerebellar ataxia. Int J Med Rev Case Rep, 5 (12), 38-39. doi:10.5455/IJMRCR.Metronidazolecommondrugrarecomplication.



Turabian Style

Sharma, Vishal Chandra, and Anisha Umashankar. 2021. Metronidazole – common drug, rare complication. A case of metronidazole induced encephalopathy and cerebellar ataxia. International Journal of Medical Reviews and Case Reports, 5 (12), 38-39. doi:10.5455/IJMRCR.Metronidazolecommondrugrarecomplication.



Chicago Style

Sharma, Vishal Chandra, and Anisha Umashankar. "Metronidazole – common drug, rare complication. A case of metronidazole induced encephalopathy and cerebellar ataxia." International Journal of Medical Reviews and Case Reports 5 (2021), 38-39. doi:10.5455/IJMRCR.Metronidazolecommondrugrarecomplication.



MLA (The Modern Language Association) Style

Sharma, Vishal Chandra, and Anisha Umashankar. "Metronidazole – common drug, rare complication. A case of metronidazole induced encephalopathy and cerebellar ataxia." International Journal of Medical Reviews and Case Reports 5.12 (2021), 38-39. Print. doi:10.5455/IJMRCR.Metronidazolecommondrugrarecomplication.



APA (American Psychological Association) Style

Sharma, V. C. & Umashankar, . A. (2021) Metronidazole – common drug, rare complication. A case of metronidazole induced encephalopathy and cerebellar ataxia. International Journal of Medical Reviews and Case Reports, 5 (12), 38-39. doi:10.5455/IJMRCR.Metronidazolecommondrugrarecomplication.