NEUROLEPTIC MALIGNANT SYNDROME IN A BURN PATIENT

A 39 year old white male with a 55% total body surface burn who develo ped neuroleptic malignant syndrome (NMS) during his acute course is re ported. The patient had several acute sinusitis and septic episodes du ring his acute course. On postburn day 31, he developed a temperature of 108.4 degrees F (42.4 degrees C). This responded promptly to Dantro lene and Bromocriptene. His recovery was uneventful. NMS is a drug-rel ated response to various medications, such as Haloperidol, which the p atient was receiving. NMS must be considered as part of the differenti al diagnosis of fever in burn patients receiving medication known to c ause the syndrome. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd for ISBI. All rights reserved.