Loss of consciousness in a little traveler

Loss of consciousness in children can be caused by a wide spectrum of factors, including infection, metabolic disorders, trauma, and poisoning which requires timely and accurate evaluation.

In this paper, we introduce a three-year-old boy who was first referred to the Emergency ward of Mashhad Imam Reza Hospital due to unconsciousness. Having spent a few days in a hotel, this boy, who was a visitor to Mashhad, lost consciousness. During evaluations, hypotension and severe high anion gap metabolic acidosis was observed. Finally, the patient was diagnosed with ethylene glycol poisoning.

Poisoning should be considered as one of the most likely diagnoses in children with loss of consciousness. The identification of the clinical symptoms and the use of appropriate diagnostic algorithms is essential for timely diagnosis and appropriate treatment of specific cases of toxicity.