Pertussis Pneumonia Complicated by a Hyponatremic Seizure

Abstract

We present the case of a 6-week-old male infant who had a convulsion due to pertussis pneumonia. He was admitted to our emergency department because of lethargy and hypothermia. He developed a generalized tonic-clonic convulsion, requiring various treatments, including artificial ventilation. A chest CT showed bilateral pneumonia and laboratory data revealed hyponatremia with other features of the syndrome of inappropriate antidiuretic hormone secretion (SIADH). Although SIADH has been recognized as a cause of hyponatremia in association with pneumonia, there is little in the literature regarding SIADH caused by pertussis. Hyponatremia caused by SIADH must be considered as a differential diagnosis of seizures in pertussis infection of infants.

Hyponatremia in pediatric community-acquired pneumonia

“…No earlier data are available on the etiology of pediatric pneumonia and the risk of electrolyte disturbances. In a case report, pertussis was associated with severe HN and seizures in a 6-week-old infant [34]. Studies of adults have suggested that patients with CAP caused by Legionella pneumophila are at a higher risk of developing HN than are those suffering from CAP due to other germs [35][36][37], such as Streptococcus pneumoniae, Mycoplasma pneumoniae or Chlamydia pneumoniae, more commonly seen in pneumonia in both adults and children.…”

Serum Sodium Levels in Children with Lower Respiratory Tract Infection

“…Japonya'dan yayınlanan bir çalışmada ise Hiponatremi ile ASYE etkenleri arasında herhangi bir ilişki bulunamamıştır (7). Ancak boğmaca sonrası pnömoni gelişen 6 haftalık bir erkek hastada ağır hiponatremi nedeniyle konvülziyon görüldüğü bildirilmiştir (14). Erişkinlerde ise legionella pneumophila'ya bağlı gelişen pnömonilerde hiponatreminin daha sık görüldüğü saptanmıştır (15).…”