Cinchonism is a pathological condition caused by an overdose of cinchona bark or its alkaloids quinine and quinidine.
Quinine and its derivatives are used to treat malaria and Lupus erythematous. Quinidine is used as antiarrhythmic drug.
Signs and symptoms of mild cinchonism include sweaty skin, blurred vision, tinnitus (ringing in ear), impaired hearing, confusion, rashes, vomiting, nausea and diarrhea. Mild symptoms may occur from standard therapeutic doses of quinine or quinidine.
Large doses may lead to severe symptoms of cinchonism which include skin rashes, deafness, somnolence, decreased virtual ability, anaphylactic shock, disturbance in heart rhythm and death from cardiotoxicity.
Most of the symptoms of cinchonism are reversible and disappear once the quinine or quinidine is withdrawn.
It may occur several days after initiation of quinine therapy or more rapidly after acute overdose.
The diagnosis is made by confirming recent use of quinine or quinidine during patient history. The treatment may depend on severity of symptoms and include discontinuation of drug, dose tapering or hemodialysis in some cases.
To reduce the risk of cinchonism, quinine should be avoided in patients suffering from renal disease, cardiac abnormalities such as long QT syndrome, myasthenia gravis or glucose-6-phosphate deficiency.
Bikash is a biologist with background in cell biology, molecular biology, immunology and microbiology. He works as an Analytical Chemist III for a CRO company called Avomeen in Ann Arbor, Michigan, US. He established biologics lab there. He loves to help other companies to solve their problems.
