Fatal cerebral edema and intracranial hemorrhage associated with hypernatremic dehydration

Pediatr Radiol. 1997 Oct;27(10):785-7. doi: 10.1007/s002470050232.

Abstract

We report neuroimaging findings of intracranial hemorrhage and cerebral edema in an infant with obtundation and seizures, initially suspected to be secondary to non-accidental trauma but finally attributed to hypernatremic dehydration. Neuroimaging findings due to hypernatremic dehydration have not been previously described in the radiologic literature. Hypernatremia should be included in the differential diagnosis of intracranial hemorrhage in the infant without evidence of nonaccidental trauma.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Brain Edema / diagnostic imaging
  • Brain Edema / etiology*
  • Brain Injuries / diagnosis
  • Cerebral Hemorrhage / diagnostic imaging
  • Cerebral Hemorrhage / etiology*
  • Dehydration / complications*
  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Echoencephalography
  • Humans
  • Hypernatremia / complications*
  • Infant
  • Male
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed*