A 2-month-old infant with vomiting, seizures, and progressive apathy

Related Experiment Videos

Alexander Larsen1, Christine Martin, Sascha Meyer

  • 1Department of General Pediatrics and Neonatology, University Hospital of Saarland, Kirrbergerstr. Building 9, 66421 Homburg, Germany. alexander.larsen@uks.eu

European Journal of Pediatrics
|February 4, 2012
PubMed

Insights

A 2-month-old infant experienced vomiting and seizures. Cranial MRI revealed significant findings, indicating a serious neurological issue requiring prompt medical attention.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Neurology
  • Neuroimaging

Background:

  • Infantile neurological disorders present diagnostic challenges.
  • Early identification of neurological abnormalities is crucial for infant outcomes.

Observation:

  • A 2-month-old infant presented with a week of recurrent vomiting.
  • Progressive apathy and focal seizures were noted clinical symptoms.
  • Cranial Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) was performed.

Findings:

  • The cranial MRI revealed a significant and noticeable abnormality.
  • Specific details of the MRI findings require further elaboration but suggest a critical neurological event.

Implications:

  • The findings necessitate urgent diagnostic workup to determine the underlying cause.
  • Prompt intervention based on accurate diagnosis is vital for the infant's prognosis.
  • This case highlights the importance of advanced neuroimaging in diagnosing acute neurological conditions in infants.

Related Concept Videos

Hepatic Encephalopathy01:29

Hepatic Encephalopathy

DefinitionHepatic encephalopathy is a reversible neurologic syndrome that results from advanced liver dysfunction or portosystemic shunting. It leads to disturbances in cognition, behavior, and motor function due to the brain’s exposure to gut-derived toxins that the liver fails to detoxify.EtiologyThis condition develops either in the setting of acute fulminant hepatitis or progressively during chronic liver disease, such as cirrhosis and portal hypertension. Portosystemic shunting—including...
Seizures l: Introduction01:20

Seizures l: Introduction

Understanding seizures and epilepsy relies on key definitions that help in recognizing, classifying, and managing these disorders. These definitions provide a framework for recognizing, classifying, and managing seizure disorders.DefinitionsA seizure is a sudden, abnormal burst of electrical activity in the brain that can cause changes in awareness, movement, sensation, or behavior, depending on the area involved. Epilepsy is a chronic condition characterized by recurrent, unprovoked seizures,...
Seizures: Classification01:13

Seizures: Classification

Epilepsy is primarily characterized by unpredictable seizures, either provoked by an identifiable factor, such as injury or illness, or unprovoked, occurring spontaneously without apparent cause.
Seizures are typically classified into two main categories: focal and generalized seizures.
Focal Seizures
Focal seizures originate from specific regions of the brain. These seizures are further sub-classified into two types:
Encephalitis l: Introduction01:19

Encephalitis l: Introduction

Encephalitis is inflammation of the brain parenchyma, most often due to infections or autoimmune processes. It presents with neuropsychiatric features such as fever, altered mental status, behavioral changes, cognitive dysfunction, seizures, focal deficits, and sometimes autonomic instability. In some cases, the meninges are also involved, resulting in meningoencephalitis.Infectious CausesInfectious encephalitis is most commonly viral but can also result from bacterial, fungal, or parasitic...
Pathophysiology of Vomiting01:22

Pathophysiology of Vomiting

Vomiting is a complex physiological response to expel harmful or irritating substances from the body. It's a defensive mechanism triggered by stimuli like poisons, microbial toxins, cytotoxic drugs, and mechanical abdominal distension. The process is centrally coordinated by the vomiting (or emetic) center located in the medulla of the brainstem. This area, rich in muscarinic M1, histamine H1, neurokinin 1 (NK1), and serotonin 5-HT3 receptors, coordinates the act of vomiting through interaction...
Viral Meningitis01:18

Viral Meningitis

Viral meningitis is the most common form of meningitis and is often referred to as aseptic meningitis to indicate the absence of bacterial involvement. It is generally milder than bacterial meningitis, with symptoms including fever, headache, stiff neck, drowsiness, nausea, photophobia, and vomiting. Rarely, more severe manifestations or death may occur. Common causative agents include enteroviruses, particularly coxsackie A and B viruses and echoviruses, all members of the Enterovirus genus...