Fever and Shock in a Child: How 'good' is a Good Blood Test?

• Main Authors: Nevin Kollannoor Chinnan, Pragnyadipta Mishra, GD Puri
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Hindawi Limited 2005-01-01
• Series: Canadian Journal of Infectious Diseases and Medical Microbiology
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2005/404983

CASE PRESENTATION A 12-year-old girl presented with a history of intermittent fever (38.3°C to 40°C) for 10 days that was not associated with chills and rigours, and was relieved by antipyretics. She also had nonbilious and nonprojectile vomiting (seven days), shortness of breath (four days) and watery diarrhea (two days). At the beginning of her illness, she was treated with a complete course of oral chloroquine by a general practitioner. In the pediatric emergency room, she presented with a heart rate of 136 beats/min, a respiratory rate of 56 breaths/min, a temperature of 37.8°C, a blood pressure of 60/30 mmHg and a capillary filling time of 5 s to 6 s. Shock resuscitation measures were initiated with intravenous normal saline (20 mL/kg bolus) and dopamine 5 µg/kg/min. She developed ventricular fibrillation, which was cardioverted. After cardiac arrest, she was intubated and transferred to the intensive care unit. Two hours later, she started bleeding from the nasogastric tube and endotracheal tube. A chest radiograph revealed bilateral lung opacities suggestive of intraparenchymal bleeding. The other significant clinical findings included icterus, cervical and inguinal lymphadenopathy, soft tender hepatomegaly, moderate splenomegaly and an absence of focal neurological deficits and meningeal signs.