Acute hypervitaminosis A misdiagnosed as malaria in a 7-year-old Nigerian boy

Int Med Case Rep J. 2019 Jul 9:12:213-216. doi: 10.2147/IMCRJ.S212848. eCollection 2019.

Abstract

Vitamin A supplementation program where single high-dose vitamin A supplements are provided to the qualified (infants and children) at regular intervals is operational in Nigeria as a public health initiative to control vitamin A deficiency which is prevalent in our country in accordance with the WHO recommendations. Reports of symptomatic acute hypervitaminosis A are scarce. We report a case of acute hypervitaminosis A resulting from accidental ingestion of vitamin A supplement capsules. This is to reiterate the need for caregivers to keep drugs out of the reach of children. Clinicians should also have a high index of suspicion.

Keywords: accidental ingestion; malaria; raised intracranial pressure; vitamin A supplementation.