Hypotone Hyperhydratation

Abstract

BackgroundThe causes of water intoxication are manifold. Isolated case reports of fatal water intoxication have been described in the literature.Materials and methodsA case of self-induced fatal water intoxication in a female psychiatric patient is presented. The results of a search in PubMed for fatal cases of water intoxication from 1995 to 2009 were evaluated and are presented here.ResultsNo age or gender-related differences regarding frequency of occurrence could be found. The most common form was self-induced water intoxication in psychiatric patients. Clinical symptoms of water intoxication are hyponatremia, unconsciousness/coma, seizures and gastrointestinal symptoms. The period of survival after water intake varied between hours and several days. Autopsy findings included brain and lung edema as well as pleural effusions.ConclusionFatal water intoxication constitutes only a minor proportion of forensic autopsies. If water intoxication is suspected, autopsy findings as well as clinical records and laboratory results should be taken into account.