Biomaterial Database

Methaemoglobinaemia after ingestion of amyl nitrite. 1991

R J Forsyth, and A Moulden

Department of Child Health, University Hospital, Nottingham.

We report a case of methaemoglobinaemia in a 2 year old girl after ingestion of an 'aphrodisiac' containing nitrite. The availability of these products, their poor labelling, and their intended presence in domestic bedrooms all serve to increase the hazard they pose to young children.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D008708	Methemoglobinemia	The presence of methemoglobin in the blood, resulting in cyanosis. A small amount of methemoglobin is present in the blood normally, but injury or toxic agents convert a larger proportion of hemoglobin into methemoglobin, which does not function reversibly as an oxygen carrier. Methemoglobinemia may be due to a defect in the enzyme NADH methemoglobin reductase (an autosomal recessive trait) or to an abnormality in hemoglobin M (an autosomal dominant trait). (Dorland, 27th ed)	Methemoglobinemias
D002675	Child, Preschool	A child between the ages of 2 and 5.	Children, Preschool,Preschool Child,Preschool Children
D005260	Female		Females
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000061	Accidents, Home	ACCIDENTS which occur within the home.	Home Accidents,Accident, Home,Home Accident
D000680	Amyl Nitrite	A vasodilator that is administered by inhalation. It is also used recreationally due to its supposed ability to induce euphoria and act as an aphrodisiac.	Nitrite, Amyl
D001046	Aphrodisiacs	Chemical agents or ODORANTS that stimulate sexual desires. (McGraw-Hill Dictionary of Scientific and Technical Terms, 4th ed)	Aphrodisiac,Aphrodisiac Effect,Aphrodisiac Effects,Effect, Aphrodisiac,Effects, Aphrodisiac