Open AccessHypophosphataemia in confused half‐marathon runners: A report of two cases
Author(s) -
Lo Yat Hei,
Mok Ka Leung
Publication year - 2020
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 - 10.1177/1024907919868085
Subject(s) - medicine , heat illness , accident and emergency , emergency department , pediatrics , emergency medicine , medical emergency , psychiatry , physics , meteorology
Introduction: Severe hypophosphataemia may occur in long distance runners presenting to Accident & Emergency (A&E) department with exertional heat illness. Case presentation: A 46‐year‐old man who collapsed in half marathon race was found to have raised body temperature (38.8°C) and confused with memory loss in the Accident & Emergency department. His amnesia was persistent even after his body temperature was normalized. He was found to have severe hypophosphataemia (0.21 mmol/L; reference range: 0.74 ‐ 1.4 mmol/L). He had a neurological recovery after phosphate replacement. Another 45‐year‐old female half marathon runner was found to have moderate hypophosphataemia (0.5 mmol/L) co‐presenting with exertional heat illness. Discussion: Moderate to severe hypophosphataemia complicated the clinical picture of the two cases presented with exertional heat illness. Causes of hypophosphataemia in runners are multifactorial. Conclusion: Emergency physician should be alert of profound hypophosphataemia as a complication in heat exertional illness.