Methemoglobinemia secondary to topical silver nitrate therapy - a case report

Methemoglobinemia is a rare complication in individuals exposed to nitrates or nitrites. Whereas methemoglobinemia is a recognized potential complicat ion in burn patients treated with topical 0.5% silver nitrate solution, no report of methemoglobinemia in burn patients has been present in the litera ture for more than 15 years. We raise consciousness about this complication with a case report of a 12-month-old child with necrotizing fasciitis resu lting from a cutaneous flank infection. The patient developed cyanosis 20 d ays after initiation of topical treatment with 0.5% silver nitrate solution . Intravenous injection of methylene blue can restore normal blood oxygenat ion. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd and ISBI. All rights reserved.