PEDIATRICS Vol. 104 No. 3 September 1999, p. e34
Received Dec 8, 1998; accepted Mar 18, 1999.
,
From the Departments of * Anesthesiology,
Pediatrics, and
§ Genetics, University of Florida College of Medicine, Gainesville,
Florida.
Acute severe carbon monoxide poisoning is usually easy to recognize and diagnose. However, chronic or less severe exposure may produce more subtle symptoms. We report on a 31/2-year-old girl who was admitted to the hospital several times with acute, life-threatening events, acidosis, and flu-like symptoms. The diagnosis was elusive, but after careful questioning of family members and a home visit, chronic carbon monoxide poisoning was diagnosed.
Key words: carbon monoxide poisoning, carboxyhemoglobin, children, diarrhea, acute life-threatening events, lactic acidosis, flu-like symptoms.