Open AccessInvoluntary movements in an adolescent: what are the causes?
Author(s) -
Ana Sofia Vaz,
Nádia Brito,
Lurdes Moura,
Agostinho Fernandes
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
bmj case reports
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.231
H-Index - 26
ISSN - 1757-790X
DOI - 10.1136/bcr-2019-231398
Subject(s) - medicine , haloperidol , trunk , dystonia , pediatrics , anesthesia , psychiatry , ecology , biology , dopamine
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.