ABSTRACT
Despite the lack of scientific evidence supporting its effectiveness, homeopathic treatment is increasingly being used as a form of alternative medicine, with many people taking homeopathic remedies instead of drug therapies. It is based on the principle of 'like cures like', meaning that a remedy similar to the illness can be used to treat it. However, there have been several reports suggesting the risks of homeopathic remedies, among which homeopathy-induced liver injury is widely discussed. Here, we report a case of a 35-year-old well-oriented male patient with a typical clinical presentation of liver injury as presented by yellowish discoloration of sclera and skin along with generalized body itching following the use of homeopathic medicine for musculoskeletal pain. Laboratory reports of increased liver markers along with bilirubin were also suggestive. Excluding other differentials like viral hepatitis, alcoholic hepatitis, hemochromatosis, Wilson disease, and standard drug and toxin-induced hepatitis, the recent use of homeopathic remedies was a contributing factor in leading to the diagnosis of homeopathy-induced liver injury. He was then treated with the discontinuation of homeopathic medicine and supportive care. This case highlights the need for public awareness of the possible complications such as headache, tiredness, skin eruption, dizziness, bowel dysfunction, allergic reactions to acute pancreatitis, renal failure, neurological dysfunction, possible liver injury, and even mortality in those patients who pursue homeopathic treatments and health care professionals should take this into account when making a differential diagnosis in patients with liver injury.
ABSTRACT
Pyrexia of unknown origin refers to a fever of over 38.3°C on multiple occasions for at least three weeks without a known aetiology, even after a week of hospitalization. Adult-onset Still's disease is a rare systemic auto-inflammatory disorder with a prevalence of 0.6/100,000 population characterized by spiking fever, arthralgia or arthritis and maculopapular rash. Here, we present a case of 19 years-old female with pyrexia of unknown origin. With no identifiable cause and fulfilled criteria of Yamaguchi, a diagnosis of adult-onset Still's disease was made. She was treated with Intravenous steroid therapy followed by oral steroids and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. This case highlights the awareness of the possible adult-onset Still's disease patients with pyrexia of unknown origin. However, one should remain cautious and exclude all other differentials before making this diagnosis, as the actual disease may masquerade as adult-onset Still's disease criteria. Keywords: arthralgia; case reports; fever.
