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Altered consciousness and lethargy from compromised intestinal blood flow in children

Wolfgang Pumberger1, Ingrid Dinhobl, Peter Dremsek

  • 1Department of Pediatric Surgery, Landes-Frauen-u Kinderklinik Linz, Krankkenhausstrasse 26, A-4020 Linz, Austria. wolfgang.pumberger@chello.at

The American Journal of Emergency Medicine
|July 20, 2004
PubMed

Insights

Altered consciousness and lethargy in children may signal serious abdominal conditions like bowel obstruction. Early recognition is crucial for timely diagnosis and treatment of these gastrointestinal emergencies.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Medicine
  • Gastroenterology
  • Neurology

Background:

  • Altered mental state and lethargy can be presenting symptoms in pediatric diseases.
  • Abdominal pathologies may manifest with neurological signs before gastrointestinal symptoms appear.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To highlight the significance of altered consciousness and lethargy as early indicators of intra-abdominal diseases in children.
  • To report previously undocumented neurological presentations in specific pediatric gastrointestinal emergencies.

Main Methods:

  • Retrospective review of thirteen pediatric cases.
  • Analysis of clinical presentations where neurological changes preceded gastrointestinal symptoms.

Main Results:

  • Thirteen children presented with impaired mental state and lethargy as initial symptoms.
  • These neurological signs preceded overt gastrointestinal manifestations in the studied cases.
  • Altered consciousness and lethargy in volvulus, strangulation, or bowel incarceration are reported for the first time.

Conclusions:

  • Altered mental state and lethargy warrant consideration in the differential diagnosis of children with unexplained neurological changes.
  • Prompt abdominal evaluation is essential for children presenting with neurological symptoms and suspected intra-abdominal pathology.

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