Vitamin D intoxication through errors in administration: a case report

• Autor(a) principal: Vieira,Letícia Teixeira de Carvalho
• Data de Publicação: 2018
• Outros Autores: Batista,Mariana Queiroz, Silva,Eduardo Marques da, Gonsaga,Ricardo Alessandro Teixeira
• Tipo de documento: Relatório
• Idioma: eng
• Título da fonte: Revista Brasileira de Geriatria e Gerontologia
• Texto Completo: http://old.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S1809-98232018000100095
• topic: Vitamin D; Intoxication; Hypercalcemia

Abstract Vitamin D intoxication caused by the irregular consumption of medications is a major concern in geriatric health. Due to errors in administering such vitamins and medical malpractice, many patients lack the proper management of vitamin supplementation, considering what is actually prescribed. The present study, which aims to report on intoxication by this vitamin, describes an elderly couple who lived alone and divided their household tasks. The wife, who is the main focus of the report, was lucid but suffered musculoskeletal disorders and used a wheelchair, while the husband could function physically. The wife was hospitalized with a clinical profile of delirium. Intoxication is a major cause of metabolic encephalopathy, which explains how the case developed. The co-adjuvant was the husband, who suffered apparent mild cognitive impairment, and modified the doctor's dosage of vitamin D alone, contradicting the guidance of the family. The family monitored the health status of the couple through weekly telephone calls to check if their medications were being taken properly. After investigation with new anamneses and a review of medical records, intoxication was confirmed due to an error in the amount of the drug administered over a prolonged period. It is extremely important to be aware of the clinical profile of hypercalcemia and how to treat the same. In geriatrics, diagnosis should involve both clinical treatment and special care to understand the daily routine of elderly persons in order to avoid further repercussions.