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A fatal outcome of complicated severe diabetic ketoacidosis in a 11-year-old girl

  • Srećko Severinski , Ivona Butorac Ahel EMAIL logo , Aleksandar Ovuka and Arijan Verbić
Published/Copyright: May 25, 2016

Abstract

Diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) is a complex metabolic state characterized by hyperglycemia, metabolic acidosis and ketonuria. Cerebral edema is the most common rare complication of DKA in children. The objective of the study was to emphasize the importance of careful evaluation and monitoring for signs and symptoms of cerebral edema in all children undergoing treatment for DKA. We present a case of 11-year-old girl with a history of diabetes mellitus type I (T1DM) who presented with severe DKA complicated by hypovolemic shock, cerebral edema and hematemesis. Considering the fact that complications of DKA are rare and require a high index of clinical suspicion, early recognition and treatment are crucial for avoiding permanent damage.

  1. Author contributions: All the authors have accepted responsibility for the entire content of this submitted manuscript and approved submission.

  2. Research funding: None declared.

  3. Employment or leadership: None declared.

  4. Honorarium: None declared.

  5. Competing interests: The funding organization(s) played no role in the study design; in the collection, analysis, and interpretation of data; in the writing of the report; or in the decision to submit the report for publication.

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Received: 2015-12-28
Accepted: 2016-4-19
Published Online: 2016-5-25
Published in Print: 2016-8-1

©2016 Walter de Gruyter GmbH, Berlin/Boston

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