Simona Stanca 1, Mădălina Petran 1, C. Ulmeanu 1, Viorela Niţescu 1
1 Emergency Clinical Hospital for Children “Grigore Alexandrescu”, Pediatric Poisoning Centre, Bucharest
Abstract
Coma is a medical emergency that requires rapid and precise evaluation, especially in a Pediatric Emergency Department. Consciousness refers to the state of awareness of self and environment. Evaluation of consciousness in the pediatric patient must consider age and the appropriate developmental level. Coma is caused by multiple conditions that affect the brainstem or cortex diffusely. In the etiology of coma there are two large categories of coma: traumatic and non traumatic. Each of them includes a lot of cases. Coma is often a manifestation of life-threatening conditions. Therefore, the first evaluation of the child begins with vital functions’ stabilization and identification of immediately reversible causes. After stabilization we have to obtain a detailed history and perform a full physical examination. The physical exam can be crucial in finding the toxicants involved. Poisoning is the main cause of coma in children admitted and treated in Emergency Clinical Hospital for Children “Grigore Alexandrescu”.