A rare clinical presentation of metronidazole-induced dysarthria: A Case report with literature review
Abstract
We described a case of a rare, but notable adverse effect of metronidazole therapy, where a 55-year-old chronic alcoholic patient developed dysarthria following a four-week course of the drug for the treatment of pyogenic liver abscesses. Dysarthria, characterized by slurred or unclear speech, is an uncommon complication of metronidazole, which is generally well-tolerated but has the potential to cause neurotoxic effects in some individuals, especially with prolonged use or high cumulative doses. In this case, the Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) brain revealed T2/FLAIR hyperintensities involving the bilateral dentate nuclei, a key finding associated with metronidazole-induced encephalopathy. The exclusion of other possible causes for dysarthria led to the conclusion that the symptoms were likely induced by metronidazole. This highlights the importance of considering drug-induced neurotoxicity in patients presenting with new neurological symptoms, particularly when there is a history of prolonged antibiotic therapy. The patient's improvement after discontinuing metronidazole and switching to alternative treatment further supports this diagnosis. This case underscores the necessity of closely monitoring patients on metronidazole, especially those receiving prolonged treatment, for any emerging neurological signs. Typical MRI findings play a crucial role in the vigilance for the diagnosis and treatment of such clinical situations. Timely recognition and intervention can help…
How strong is the evidence?
Evidence Hub reads this as a case report, done in people. Its evidence level is 5 of 5 (Very low · case / narrative / animal / in vitro / in silico). Case reports, narrative reviews, and animal, cell or computer-model studies give the weakest evidence for human health.
Read the paper
Related studies
- Improving sleep quality leads to better mental health: A meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials
- Tocilizumab in patients with severe COVID-19: a retrospective cohort study
- A new aging measure captures morbidity and mortality risk across diverse subpopulations from NHANES IV: A cohort study
- Fruit, vegetable, and legume intake, and cardiovascular disease and deaths in 18 countries (PURE): a prospective cohort study
- Are noise and air pollution related to the incidence of dementia? A cohort study in London, England
- Long COVID symptoms and duration in SARS-CoV-2 positive children — a nationwide cohort study
Go deeper in Evidence Hub
Evidence Hub adds a study data sheet (design, sample size, evidence level, key numbers), an AI summary and a chat grounded in the paper's text.