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Child abuse in an infant presenting as unexplained acute systemic hypertension

R D Adelman1, R A Fink, R D Rohn

  • 1Department of Pediatrics, Phoenix Children's Hospital, Arizona, USA. radelman@phxchildrens.com

Pediatric Nephrology (Berlin, Germany)
|August 24, 2000
PubMed

Insights

Infant hypertension is rare and often linked to serious conditions. However, an undiagnosed femoral fracture from child abuse can also cause acute hypertension in infants.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatrics
  • Neonatology
  • Child Abuse Research

Background:

  • Infant hypertension is uncommon, typically associated with renal, aortic, or pulmonary conditions.
  • Differential diagnosis for infant hypertension usually includes congenital anomalies and chronic diseases.

Observation:

  • A 3-month-old infant presented with unexplained acute systemic hypertension.
  • Further investigation revealed an undiagnosed femoral fracture, indicative of child abuse.

Findings:

  • Undiagnosed fractures, particularly those resulting from child abuse, can manifest as unexplained acute systemic hypertension in infants.
  • This case highlights a less common etiology for infant hypertension.

Implications:

  • Child abuse should be considered in the differential diagnosis of infants presenting with unexplained hypertension.
  • Early identification of fractures in abusive head trauma cases is crucial for timely intervention and management.
  • This underscores the importance of a comprehensive diagnostic approach in pediatric hypertension.

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