[Three infants with epidural hematoma].
Three infants, two boys aged 10 months and one girl aged 5 months, developed drowsiness and emesis within a few hours of a fall (after which they had not lost consciousness). Radiological examination revealed an epidural haematoma which was treated with emergency decompression. The children subsequently made a good recovery. An epidural haematoma is a potentially life-threatening event. More than 20% of all cases of epidural haematoma occur in childhood. In contrast with distinct symptoms in most adults and older children, an epidural haematoma in infancy can have a minimum of symptoms. The open fontanelle means compression occurs less rapidly, but consequently blood loss can be greater, leading to acute anaemia, hypovolaemic shock and consumptive coagulopathy.
Schade
S J
SJ
Afd. Kindergeneeskunde, Sint Elisabeth Ziekenhuis, Hilvarenbeekseweg 60, 5022 GC Tilburg.
Lie
S T
ST
Draaisma
J M
JM
D000058:Accidental Falls; D000367:Age Factors; D019299:Decompression, Surgical; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006407:Hematoma, Epidural, Cranial / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D012887:Skull Fractures / Q000150:complications*; D012894:Sleep Stages; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014839:Vomiting / Q000209:etiology