Question

A patient comes to the casualty with organophosphate poisoning. He was started on atropine infusion and pralidoxime. After 2 hours, the patient had a sudden rise in temperature. What is the likely cause of fever?

• A. Atropine toxicity
• B. A side effect of pralidoxime
• C. Due to organophosphate poisoning
• D. Idiopathic

Answer 1

The Correct Option is A

When a patient experiences a sudden rise in temperature after receiving an atropine infusion following organophosphate poisoning treatment, it is important to consider the possible causes. Atropine is used to counteract muscarinic effects in organophosphate poisoning, but it can also have side effects.

One known side effect of atropine is its ability to cause hyperthermia. This occurs because atropine is an antimuscarinic agent that inhibits the action of acetylcholine on muscarinic receptors. This leads to decreased sweating (anhidrosis), which impairs the body's ability to cool down, resulting in increased body temperature or fever. Given the circumstances described, the rise in temperature is most likely due to atropine toxicity.

While other options like side effects of pralidoxime or the effects of organophosphate poisoning itself were considered, the acute rise in temperature following atropine administration strongly suggests atropine toxicity as the cause.

Therefore, the likely cause of fever in this case is atropine toxicity.