Jaundice following acetarsol pessaries.

Miss X, a machinist, aged 19 years, consulted her doctor on 8. 11. 50 because she had a whitish vaginal discharge. Acetarsol pessaries were prescribed, and she was told to insert one pessary into the vagina daily. On 11. 11. 50 she complained of shivering, fever, oedema of the eyelids, lips, and face, and chemosis. There was a morbilliform eruption on the trunk, forearms, and arms. On 14. 11. 50 she complained of anorexia, nausea, vomiting, jaundice, and pruritis. The pruritis and jaundice increased in severity with loss of weight until she was admitted to hospital on 29. 11. 50. The pyrexia, anorexia, nausea, and vomiting were present for a few days. Her urine became dark and her stools pale. The pessaries were discontinued on the appearance of jaundice. There was no abdominal pain or discomfort, and no hepatic or splenic enlargement or tenderness before admission.