Non-cardiogenic pulmonary oedema following accidental electrocution in a toddler

Non-cardiogenic pulmonary oedema due to electrocution is an underdiagnosed clinical entity. The authors report a toddler who presented with symptoms and signs of respiratory failure following accidental electrocution. His chest radiography showed bilateral diffuse infiltrates and cardiac involvement was ruled out by echocardiography. The child was managed symptomatically and discharged in a stable condition. The cause of pulmonary oedema in this child was thought to be neurogenic in origin as cardiac and pulmonary causes were ruled out. Non-cardiogenic pulmonary oedema is an uncommonly recognised entity which occurs with any neurological or non-neurological event stimulating the vasomotor centres. There are divergent theories to explain the cause for this rare phenomenon but none has been proved. The authors chose to report this case to highlight this uncommon complication of electrocution hitherto unreported in children.