AN INTERESTING CASE OF FEVER WITH CENTRAL CYANOSIS

A 13 years old female presented with fever for 10 days with central cyanosis, which did not improve with supplemental oxygen, with no clinical evidence of respiratory or cardiac disorder. Pulse oximetry showed spO2 of 82 percent and arterial blood gas analysis showed PaO2 and SaO2 in the normal range. Echocardiography and CT chest were normal. All other tests including tests for hemolysis were within normal limits. As there was saturation gap, blood methemoglobin was tested. Methemoglobin level was 11 percent on the second day of admission, which decreased to normal values in 8 days.G6PD levels within normal limits. Patient had been treated with chloroquine for 3 days before she was referred to us. Fever subsided on the second day with symptomatic treatment. So we report this case, a case of acquired methemoglobinemia due to chloroquine, a rare complication.