Risperidone-induced priapism in an autistic child: a case report

BACKGROUND: Priapism is a prolonged stimulation with painful, persistent penile erection unaccompanied by sexual desire. It is a rare but serious urological emergency. Risperidone is an atypical antipsychotic widely prescribed for the treatment of behavior problems in children with autism spectrum disorder. It seems associated with priapism in children. CASE PRESENTATION: We present a case of a 12-year-old Moroccan boy diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder who developed priapism while on an existing regimen of risperidone, and we report the treatment decisions that followed. CONCLUSIONS: Clinicians who prescribe risperidone should be aware of the possibility of this rare complication in their patients. Information about this possible side effect and instructions regarding appropriate response should be made available to caregivers of those in the at-risk group of young patients.