Myositis complicating benzathine penicillin-G injection in a case of rheumatic heart disease

Joshua R Francis; Rosemary Wyber; Bo Remenyi; David Croser; Jonathan Carapetis

doi:10.1016/j.idcr.2016.02.001

Myositis complicating benzathine penicillin-G injection in a case of rheumatic heart disease

IDCases. 2016 Feb 15:4:6-7. doi: 10.1016/j.idcr.2016.02.001. eCollection 2016.

Authors

Joshua R Francis¹, Rosemary Wyber², Bo Remenyi³, David Croser⁴, Jonathan Carapetis⁵

Affiliations

¹ Department of Paediatrics, Royal Darwin Hospital, Darwin, NT, Australia; Northern Territory Medical Program, Flinders University, Darwin, NT, Australia; Menzies School of Health Research, Charles Darwin University, Darwin, NT, Australia.
² Telethon Kids Institute, University of Western Australia, Perth, WA, Australia.
³ Menzies School of Health Research, Charles Darwin University, Darwin, NT, Australia.
⁴ Department of Radiology, Royal Darwin Hospital, Darwin, NT, Australia.
⁵ Telethon Kids Institute, University of Western Australia, Perth, WA, Australia; Department of Paediatric Infectious Diseases, Princess Margaret Hospital for Children, Perth, WA, Australia.

Abstract

A 7-year old boy developed myositis secondary to intramuscular injection of benzathine penicillin-G in the context of secondary prophylaxis for rheumatic heart disease. Side effects of intramuscular delivery of benzathine penicillin-G are well described and include injection site pain and inflammation, but myositis, as depicted on magnetic resonance imaging in this case, has not previously been described.

Keywords: Acute rheumatic fever; Adverse drug reaction; Penicillin; Rheumatic heart disease.