Hypermagnesemia in a pediatric patient

Hypermagnesemia in a 20-month-old healthy girl caused by the use of a laxative: a case report

Background

Hypermagnesemia can be a fatal condition and should be diagnosed early on. Most reports of hypermagnesemia have been of adults with impaired renal function. We describe the case of a pediatric patient without renal dysfunction who developed severe hypermagnesemia.

Case presentation

A healthy 20-month-old Asian girl presented to our emergency department with episodes of vomiting and a reduced level of consciousness. The neurological examination showed a symmetric decrease in muscle tone, and the deep tendon reflexes were decreased. On admission, her magnesium (Mg) level was 11.0 mg/dL after receiving magnesium oxide for 4 days because of constipation. She was immediately administered calcium gluconate infusion (3.9 mEq), and then was continuously infused with it (0.23 mEq/h) as a Mg antagonist to cardiac side effects. She was kept hydrated with 0.9% sodium chloride to maintain good urine output to excrete the Mg. The level of the serum Mg decreased to 2.4 mg/dL, enabling her to regain consciousness. During 5 years of follow-up, she was neurologically well, without the recurrence of hypermagnesemia.

Conclusions

Even in the absence of significant renal dysfunction, the prescription of a laxative containing Mg for constipation can result in severe hypermagnesemia. In addition, the symptoms of hypermagnesemia are nonspecific, and early diagnosis is difficult unless it is actively suspected.

Prevalence of arrhythmias among children below 15 years of age with congenital heart diseases attending Mulago National Referral Hospital, Uganda

BACKGROUND

In Uganda, few children with congenital heart diseases (CHD) benefit from early corrective cardiac surgery. These children are at high risk of developing heart failure and electrolyte imbalances; factors which increase their risk of developing arrhythmias. This study aimed to determine the prevalence and factors associated with arrhythmias among children with congenital heart diseases receiving care at Mulago Hospital.

METHODS

This was a cross-sectional study carried out from August 2013 to March 2014 at Mulago Hospital. Children were consecutively enrolled into the study. Standard 12-lead electrocardiograms (ECGs) were performed on 194 children with CHD (age range 10 days-15 years). Data was analysed using SPSS 16.0.

RESULTS

Out of 194 children studied, 53/194 (27.3 %, 95 % CI 21.0 - 33.6) children had arrhythmias. Of the CHD children, 44/194 (22.7 %, 95 % CI 16.8 - 28.6) had first degree AV block while 9/194 (4.6 %, 95 % CI 1.7 - 7.6) children had either ectopic atrial rhythm, premature atrial contractions, junctional rhythm, complete atrioventricular (AV) dissociation or premature ventricular contractions. Children using digoxin were more likely to have first degree AV block (OR 3.75, 95 % CI 1.60-8.86) while those aged 5 years and below were less likely to have first degree AV block (OR 0.16, 95 % CI 0.07-0.37).

CONCLUSION

Arrhythmias are common among children with CHD receiving care from Mulago Hospital. These are associated with digoxin use, child's age and electrolyte imbalances; factors which can easily be assessed, managed and where possible modified in these children during their care.

Severe hypermagnesemia presenting with abnormal electrocardiographic findings similar to those of hyperkalemia in a child undergoing peritoneal dialysis

In this report, we present a pediatric case of severe symptomatic hypermagnesemia resulting from the use of magnesium oxide as a laxative in a child undergoing continuous cyclic peritoneal dialysis for end-stage renal disease. The patient showed abnormal electrocardiography (ECG) findings, such as tall T waves, a widened QRS complex, and irregular conduction, which were initially misdiagnosed as hyperkalemia; later, the correct diagnosis of hypermagnesemia was obtained. Emergent hemodialysis successfully returned the serum magnesium concentration to normal without complications. When abnormal ECG changes are detected in patients with renal failure, hypermagnesemia should be considered.