Involuntary movements in an adolescent: what are the causes?

Involuntary movements can be a troublesome condition and represent a real challenge for emergency doctors, particularly for patients of paediatric age. We report a case of a 17-year-old boy with painful involuntary movements mostly affecting his mouth and lower limbs, but also the trunk. After reviewing the patient's history, it was revealed that the adolescent had had acute alcohol intoxication with severe acute agitation and therefore was given a single dose of 10 mg intravenous haloperidol. The concealment of the recent event posed serious difficulties in reaching the diagnosis. When the diagnosis of haloperidol-induced acute dystonia was made, 3 mg of intravenous biperiden was promptly administered with complete clinical resolution in 15 min.

Tatuagens: de temporárias a permanentes / Tattoos: from temporary to permanent

A realização de tatuagens temporárias é frequente, sendo percebida como inofensiva. A tinta usada deriva da henna, pigmento castanho-avermelhado obtido de uma planta. No entanto, para obter "henna negra" e facilitar a realização da tatuagem, são adicionados outros compostos, mais frequentemente a parafenilenodiamina. Esta está associada a reações alérgicas, por vezes graves e com sequelas. Os autores apresentam um caso de uma criança de 10 anos com uma reação alérgica exuberante com provável sobreinfecção bacteriana em local de tatuagem temporária. Havia história de sensibilização prévia, pelo que a reação foi precoce e mais agressiva. Os sinais inflamatórios francos motivaram o internamento sob corticoterapia sistêmica e antibioticoterapia endovenosa. Apesar da boa evolução clínica, permaneceu uma lesão hipopigmentada sequelar. Pretende-se alertar para os perigos desta realidade e também para a falta de legislação existente.

Temporary tattoos are quite popular, and they are perceived as harmless. The ink used in temporary tattoos is made from henna, a reddish-brown coloring pigment obtained from a shrub. However, in order to obtain "black henna" and facilitate the tattooing process, other compounds are added to the mixture, especially p-phenylenediamine. This compound is associated with allergic reactions that are sometimes severe and may leave sequelae. The authors describe a case of a 10-year old child presenting with allergic reaction and probable bacterial superinfection in a temporary tattoo area. The patient had a history of prior skin sensitization, and therefore the reaction was early and more aggressive. The severity of the inflammatory signs motivated hospital admission for systemic corticosteroid therapy and intravenous antibiotic therapy. Despite the good clinical evolution, a hypopigmented lesion persisted. Our goal is to raise awareness on the dangers of this practice and to highlight the lack of legislation in the area.

Group B streptococcal neonatal parotitis.

Acute neonatal parotitis (ANP) is a rare condition, characterised by parotid swelling and other local inflammatory signs. The most common pathogen is Staphylococcus aureus, but other organisms can be implicated. We describe the case of a 13-day-old term newborn, previously healthy, with late-onset group B Streptococcus (GBS) bacteraemia with ANP, who presented with irritability, reduced feeding and tender swelling of the right parotid. Laboratory evaluation showed neutrophilia, elevated C reactive protein and procalcitonin, with normal serum amylase concentration. Ultrasound findings were suggestive of acute parotitis. Empiric antibiotic therapy was immediately started and adjusted when culture results became available. The newborn was discharged after 10 days, with clinical improvement within the first 72 h. Although S. aureus is the most common pathogen implicated in ANP, GBS should be included in the differential diagnosis.