title: Non-traumatic coma and altered mental status.
abstract: Non traumatic coma in childhood is an important emergency. It can result from wide range of etiologies. CNS infections are the most common cause of non traumatic coma in children. However, multiple interrelated factors may be present in one patient. Management of a comatose child goes hand in hand with clinical evaluation. It is an emergency that requires simultaneous institution of immediate life support, identification of the cause and institution of definite therapy. The primary goal is to establish airway, breathing and circulation and to identify and treat raised intracranial pressure and seizures.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, and Advanced Pediatrics Centre, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER), Chandigarh 160012, India.
authors.forename: Atul
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Jindal
authors.forename: Sunit C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Singhi
authors.forename: Pratibha
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Singhi
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003128:Coma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D003244:Consciousness Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D004632:Emergency Medical Services; D006801:Humans; D010808:Physical Examination