Exertional Rhabdomyolysis in a Long-Distance Migrant

Exertional rhabdomyolysis is a common condition with potentially life-threatening consequences; early recognition can prevent severe downstream complications. Some migrants and undocumented immigrants who have travelled to the United States have encountered extreme heat or other austere conditions during their journey, many of which have involved long stretches of travel on foot. These factors can combine to put these migrants at risk for rhabdomyolysis. Hospitals near the border of Mexico and the United States commonly encounter patients with adverse medical complications related to the process of border crossing.

We report a patient with exertional rhabdomyolysis complicated by acute kidney injury who presented to a hospital located thousands of miles from the United States-Mexico border. WHY SHOULD AN EMERGENCY PHYSICIAN BE AWARE OF THIS?: Undocumented immigrants frequently disperse to disparate metropolitan areas after crossing the border, and therefore medical providers should remain vigilant for the medical complications of this dangerous journey.