Failure to Diagnose the Milk-Alkali Syndrome

Abstract

A case of recurrent hypercalcaemia due to chronic continuous ingestion of a calcium-containing antacid is described in whom the diagnosis was delayed because of an insufficiently detailed drug history. Specific named enquiry must be made of all the various calcium-containing drugs when seeking a history of excessive calcium intake if the diagnosis of the milk-alkali syndrome is not to be missed.