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Related Experiment Videos

H2O coma.

Dorothea Stiefel1, Axel Petzold

  • 1Department of Paediatrics, Civico Hospital, Via Tesserete 46, CH-6903 Lugano, Switzerland. stiefel_d@yahoo.co.uk

Neurocritical Care
|March 16, 2007
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Self-induced water intoxication, a rare cause of coma, occurred in a healthy teen due to excessive water intake. Prompt treatment with saline reversed the condition, highlighting the dangers of voluntary overhydration.

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Area of Science:

  • Medicine
  • Neurology
  • Toxicology

Background:

  • Water intoxication is an uncommon cause of coma, with known triggers including endurance exercise, substance abuse, and certain medical conditions.
  • Self-induced water intoxication in healthy individuals is exceptionally rare.

Observation:

  • A previously healthy 13-year-old female presented with coma and seizure following excessive voluntary water intake.
  • Clinical examination revealed neurological signs consistent with cerebral edema, and laboratory tests showed severe hyponatremia, hypochloremia, and low hematocrit.

Findings:

  • Water intoxication was confirmed by low urine and serum osmolality, despite normal brain imaging and cerebrospinal fluid analysis.
  • The patient recovered consciousness and orientation within 24 hours after intravenous sodium chloride (NaCl) administration.

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Implications:

  • This case underscores the potential for severe neurological consequences from voluntary water intoxication, even in the absence of other underlying pathologies.
  • It highlights the importance of recognizing and promptly treating water intoxication to prevent irreversible neurological damage.