Background@#
Artemether/
lumefantrine (AL), sold under the brand
name Coartem, is the most common artemisininbased combination
therapy for the
treatment of
malaria.
Drug-induced oculogyric crisis is a
neurological disorder characterized by frequent upward deviations of the
eye. In the
literature, no cases of
Coartem-induced oculogyric crisis have been reported in
Ghana.Case presentation A 19-year-old
male patient,
who presented
fever measuring 37.9 °C, general body pains, and weakness was prescribed with
antimalarial therapy artemether/
lumefantrine,
Coartem®, from a local
pharmacy. Just after initiation of
treatment, the
patient complained of
double vision, involuntary upward
eye deviation, and inability to close both
eyes. The
patient was diagnosed with
Coartem-induced oculogyric crisis and was treated with the cessation of the causing agent and
intramuscular injection of
promethazine hydrochloride. @*Conclusions@#When a
patient exhibits a
neurological disorder, such as oculogyric crisis, with normal conscious
state and normal
vital signs, special
attention should be given to obtaining a
history of recently administered medications. Clinicians should recognize adverse reactions to
drugs based on a thorough
patient history and examination. The
goal of this
report was to present
Coartem-induced oculogyric crisis.