[Acute water intoxication caused by intranasal desmopression--Minirin]

Desmopressin is used for the treatment of nocturnal enuresis. Side effects reported with intranasal desmopressin are transient headache, nausea, abdominal cramps and water intoxication with hyponatremia and grand mal seizure. We report a case of water intoxication with low serum sodium and grand mal seizure in a healthy child treated for enuresis with desmopressin. The child experienced abdominal cramps and nausea prior to the convulsions. A computerised tomography scan of the brain gave the suspicion of increased intracranial pressure ICP. The child recovered fully. We therefore recommend that parents and child are fully informed about the administration and the risk of desmopressin. If a child on desmopressin treatment experiences abdominal cramps, nausea or headache the drug should be discontinued and a physician contacted for control of serum sodium. Temporary withdrawal of desmopressin should also be considered in cases of acute illness influencing water balance.