Contents:
Medical Video: Pediatric Coma ( In Arabic ) Dr Ahmed El Husseiny
- Definition
What is a coma in a child?
A child in a coma if unconscious, cannot be fully awakened, or very difficult to wake up. The causes vary, including certain substance abuse, drug overdose, poisoning, head injuries, encephalitis, and low blood sugar levels. In all cases, you should immediately contact a pediatrician.
What are the signs and symptoms?
The following symptoms place your child at a greater risk of coma:
- Your child cannot be awakened at all
- Head or neck hurt
- Serious allergic reactions to bee stings or certain treatments may occur
- Your child is not breathing
- Slow or weak breathing
- Difficulty breathing (tightness, squealing, freezing, etc.)
- Lips turn blue or blackish dark
Caution: lay your child on the side of his body so he won't choke if he vomits.
- How to overcome
What should I do?
Comma is a medical emergency. The doctor will examine the patient's breathing flow first and help maintain breathing (respiration) and circulation. The doctor may guide breathing, blood transfusions, and other assistance.
Medical staff may give glucose or antibiotics through blood vessels, even before blood test results are obtained, if coma occurs in cases of shock caused by diabetes or infections that affect the brain.
Treatment varies, depending on the cause of coma. Treatment procedures to release pressure on the brain caused by brain swelling may be needed. If the coma is due to an overdose of medication, the doctor will provide treatment to deal with the condition. If the coma is caused by a heart attack, the doctor will provide treatment to regulate a heart attack.
Other treatments may focus on medication or therapy to treat diseases such as diabetes or liver disease.
Usually, the cause of a coma can be very diverse and the person who is attacked will return the body's function to its normal state. However, if the person who has been attacked has some brain damage, he may get permanent disability or maybe he will never regain consciousness. The person may enter the stage of vegetative resistance or brain function death.
When do I have to see a doctor?
Call an ambulance or run to a hospital if your child shows symptoms of coma.
- Prevention
Coma can be produced from pain or accident. Preventing coma produced by pain requires your participation in caring for yourself to prevent complications such as coma due to diabetes. Preventing coma from an accident can involve you being careful when dealing with something risky. One of the main causes of coma is a driving accident, so make sure to keep abiding by the rules and traffic signs.
