Case Records of the Massachusetts General Hospital (
@MassGeneralNews): A 14-year-old girl was admitted to this hospital because of hypertension.
The patient had been in her usual state of health until 10 days before the current admission, when malaise, myalgias, and nausea developed, with five episodes of vomiting. The patient’s parents took her to the emergency department of another hospital. On evaluation, the blood pressure was 125/85 mm Hg and the heart rate 120 beats per minute. The patient was actively vomiting and had dry mucous membranes. She appeared to be well developed and nourished. Intravenous fluids were administered. The symptoms abated slightly, and the patient was discharged home.
During the next 10 days, the vomiting continued, and intermittent fever, epigastric pain, nasal congestion, and cough developed. When the episodes of vomiting increased in frequency, the patient’s parents took her back to the emergency department of the other hospital. The blood pressure was 162/112 mm Hg and the heart rate 98 beats per minute. The patient reported nausea; mild tenderness was noted in the left upper quadrant of the abdomen. The blood level of potassium was 2.7 mmol per liter (reference range, 3.5 to 5.1). Tests for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2, influenza A and B viruses, and respiratory syncytial virus were negative. Intravenous ondansetron, fluids, and potassium were administered, and the patient was transferred to this hospital for further treatment.
Read the full case details in “A 14-Year-Old Girl with Hypertension,” a Case Record of the Massachusetts General Hospital, by R.R. Osborn et al.:
nej.md/4ojdoiA
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ALT A quote from a Case Record of the Massachusetts General Hospital about a 14-year-old girl with hypertension. Text reference: from Rachel R. Osborn, M.D., Jonathan S. Hausmann, M.D., Weizhen Tan, M.D., and Evan J. Zucker, M.D. Published in the New England Journal of Medicine.