What is pediatric coma

  Coma is the most serious disorder of consciousness and is one of the common clinical emergencies. It is due to the metabolic activity of the brainstem reticular formation and cerebral cortex that maintain a normal state of consciousness. The complete loss of consciousness is caused by a high degree of suppression due to the development of the disease to a critical stage. Coma often progresses from superficial to deep. Superficial coma is also called semi-coma or coma, i.e., loss of consciousness, and the sick child has painful expressions or defensive movements in response to strong stimuli, and may have purposeless limb dancing or delirium. There is no significant change in respiration, pulse, or blood pressure, and urinary or fecal retention or incontinence. In deep coma, the child loses consciousness completely, does not respond to any external stimuli, and the neurological reflexes and voluntary movements of the limbs are absent, accompanied by irregular breathing, decreased blood pressure, and incontinence of urine and stool. Only life-sustaining respiration and pulse are present.