Open AccessRare Cause of Cerebral Damage: Child with Heatstroke Found inside an Enclosed Vehicle
Author(s) -
Ozcetin M,
Arslan MT,
Yilmaz R,
Yildirim A
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
hong kong journal of emergency medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.145
H-Index - 12
eISSN - 2309-5407
pISSN - 1024-9079
DOI - 10.1177/102490791201900208
Subject(s) - heatstroke , medicine , brain damage , disseminated intravascular coagulation , coagulopathy , intensive care medicine , intensive care unit , pediatrics , pediatric intensive care unit , paediatric intensive care unit , surgery , anesthesia
Many children suffer from preventable diseases. Heat stress is one of the neglected causes of mortality and morbidity. We report here the clinical features of a 3‐year‐old boy who suffered from near‐fatal heatstroke in an enclosed car. He developed multiple organs failure, including neurological insult, acute renal failure, and disseminated intravascular coagulation. Although life‐threatening complications were treated with supportive measures and conventional external cooling in the intensive care unit, neurological sequelae persisted. This type of heatstroke is almost always preventable. Similar to many other pediatric emergencies, it can be life‐threatening and may result in severe untoward outcomes.