Case 12-2001

Presentation of CaseA 16-year-old boy was admitted to the hospital because of an altered mental and emotional status.At an uncertain interval before admission, the patient began to have diarrhea. One week before admission, a sore throat and productive cough developed, with a vague sensation of fever, and he took an antihistamine. Although usually quiet, he became confused on noon of the day before admission and began to “talk nonsense.” He was seen at another hospital, where he mentioned something that suggested an injection of illicit drugs. He spat at the nursing staff and used profane language. After haloperidol . . .