Chinese restaurant syndrome in an infant

Chinese restaurant syndrome was observed in an 18-month-old boy with symptoms occurring within 10 minutes after having been fed Chinese food. The child was highly irritable, flushed and in apparent head and abdominal distress. Although monosodium glutamate (MSG) has been identified as the causative agent of the syndrome causing transient acetylcholinosis, the intensity of the infant's symptoms contraindicated an MSG challenge. Case studies of Chinese restaurant syndrome in children have not been previously reported; however as many as 15-20% of patients in the author's pediatrics practice had experienced symptoms upon eating Chinese food