Quinacrine Hydrochloride-Induced Yellow Discoloration of the Skin in Children

Abstract

The drug of choice for treatment of giardiasis in children has changed over the past several years. Metronidazole (Flagyl) has been found to be carcinogenic in mice and mutagenic in bacteria,1 and is, therefore, no longer approved by the Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of giardiasis. Thus, quinacrine hydrochloride (Atabrine) is the recommended alternative drug for the treatment of giardiasis in children. The purpose of this report is to remind physicians of a common side effect of quinacrine hydrochloride and to call attention to a simple clinical method for its confirmation. CASE REPORT S.W., a 3-year-old white boy, had a three-week history of three to six loose, watery bowel movements per day.