Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Non-Traumatic Coma and Altered Mental Status

  • Symposium on PGIMER Protocols of Neurological Emergencies
  • Published:
The Indian Journal of Pediatrics Aims and scope Submit manuscript

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.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Wong CP, Forsyth RJ, Kelly TP, et al. Incidence, Aetiology, and Outcome Of Non-Traumatic Coma: A Population Based Study. Arch Dis Child. 2001;84:193–9.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Bansal A, Singhi S, Singhi P. Non Traumatic Coma. Indian J Pediatr. 2005;72:467–73.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. Medical Aspects of the Persistent Vegetative State (1): The Multi-Society Task Force on PVS. N Engl J Med. 1994; 330:1499–1508.

    Google Scholar 

  4. Giacino J, Whyte J. The Vegetative and Minimally Conscious States: Current Knowledge and Remaining Questions. J Head Trauma Rehabil. 2005;20:30–50.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. Giacino JT, Ashwal S, Childs N, et al. The Minimally Conscious State: Definition and Diagnostic Criteria. Neurology. 2002;58:349–53.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. Task Force for the Determination of Brain Death in Children. Guidelines for the Determination of Brain Death in Children. Pediatrics. 1987;80:298.

    Google Scholar 

  7. Laureys S, Owen AM, Schiff ND. Brain Function in Coma, Vegetative State, and Related Disorders. Lancet Neurol. 2004;3:537–46.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Tatman A, Warren A, Williams A, et al. Development of a Modified Paediatric Coma Scale in Intensive Care Practice. Arch Dis Child. 1997;77:519–21.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Baringer JR. Herpes Simplex Virus Encephalitis. In: Davis N, Kennedy PGE, editors. Infectious Diseases of the Nervous System. Oxford: Butterworth-Heinemann; 2000. p. 139–64.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Conflict of Interest

None.

Role of Funding Source

None.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pediatrics, and Advanced Pediatrics Centre, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER), Chandigarh, 160012, India

    Atul Jindal, Sunit C. Singhi & Pratibha Singhi

Authors
  1. Atul Jindal
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Sunit C. Singhi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Pratibha Singhi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Sunit C. Singhi.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Jindal, A., Singhi, S.C. & Singhi, P. Non-Traumatic Coma and Altered Mental Status. Indian J Pediatr 79, 367–375 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12098-011-0555-1

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12098-011-0555-1

Keywords

Search

Navigation