Quang Nam Regional General Hospital successfully treated a case of a very rare disease in children.

On December 10th, Quang Nam Regional General Hospital announced that doctors in the Pediatrics Department had successfully diagnosed and treated a child with "Type I Renal Tubular Acidosis" - a very rare disease in children.

Previously, TBN (12 years old) was admitted to the hospital with weakness and paralysis in her limbs, unable to walk on her own, along with fatigue, abdominal distension, and vomiting. Upon examination, doctors discovered that N. had severe hypokalemia, with a blood potassium level of only 1.7 mmol/L (normal range is 3.5 - 5.0 mmol/L). This is a dangerous condition that can cause heart rhythm disturbances and even threaten life.

On the electrocardiogram, the doctor noted a slow heart rate, flattened T waves, and the appearance of U waves – typical signs of severe hypokalemia. Immediately afterward, N. was treated intensively with intravenous potassium chloride (KCl) to compensate for the potassium deficiency.

After two days of treatment, N. was able to walk normally, eat well, no longer felt nauseous, and her abdominal bloating had subsided; however, hypokalemia was only the "tip of the iceberg." After a period of treatment, N.'s test results returned to normal, and she was discharged from the hospital.

Renal tubular acidosis is a rare condition in children that can be hereditary or acquired after autoimmune diseases or due to medications. If not detected early, the disease will lead to chronic acidosis, causing stunted growth, rickets, increased susceptibility to kidney stones, and prolonged hypokalemia, seriously affecting the child's health.

Source: https://baodanang.vn/benh-vien-da-khoa-khu-vuc-quang-nam-dieu-tri-thanh-cong-cho-truong-hop-mac-benh-ly-rat-hiem-gap-o-tre-em-3314453.html