Toxic methemoglobinemia after injection of prilocaine in a newborn. A case report.

The acute onset of cyanosis in an infant is an alarming development. We report an infant who became cyanotic after injection of prilocaine. Prilocaine is a local anesthetic that is widely used in clinical practice, but usage in infancy easily causes methemoglobinemia. Acquired methemoglobinemia occurs in individuals exposed to an increased amount of agents that oxidize hemoglobin iron.