An Unexpected Cause of Severe Hypokalemia

Abstract

We describe an unusual case of severe hypokalemia with electrocardiographic changes, due to licorice consumption, in a 15-year-old female student with no previous medical history. Prompt replacement of potassium and cessation of licorice ingestion resulted in a favourable outcome. We also discuss the pathophysiology and diagnosis, emphasizing the importance of a detailed anamnesis to rule out an often forgotten cause of hypokalemia as the licorice poisoning.

Chronic licorice consumption as a rare cause of hypocalcemia

“…Although hypokalemia is the most dangerous side effect of licorice consumption, the main adverse effect is hypertension. The USA Food and DrugAdministration (FDA) advises avoiding eating large amounts of black licorice at one time 3 . Our patient was also hypertensive on admission, however, we could not determine whether the hypertension was linked to licorice or the idiopatic hypertension in patient's medical history.…”