RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Chinese green tea and acute hepatitis: a rare yet recurring theme
JF BMJ Case Reports
FD BMJ Publishing Group Ltd
SP bcr2014208534
DO 10.1136/bcr-2014-208534
VO 2015
A1 Sebastian Thomas Lugg
A1 Darryl Braganza Menezes
A1 Simon Gompertz
YR 2015
UL http://casereports.bmj.com/content/2015/bcr-2014-208534.abstract
AB A previously healthy 16-year-old girl presented with signs of acute hepatitis. On initial enquiry, she had not taken any prescribed or ‘over-the-counter’ medications, and there was no recent travel history. Further investigations revealed no viral, autoimmune or metabolic cause of hepatitis. Only following specific questioning did she reveal that she had, in the preceding 3 months, regularly consumed internet ordered Chinese green tea, which contained Camellia sinensis. After ceasing green tea consumption, there was a rapid and sustained recovery of her hepatitis. The authors discuss the probable cause of herbal tea in this case of acute hepatitis, and the importance of awareness of this rare yet recurring theme for patients and clinicians alike.