Idiopathic intracranial hypertension with altered consciousness in a Nigerian school girl: a case report and review of the literature

Abstract

Idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH) is a clinical condition of increased intracranial pressure (ICP) without an obvious underlying pathological brain lesion. It is usually characterized by headache, neck pain, vomiting, visual disturbances, papilledema, cranial nerve palsy or a combination of these signs and symptoms. The diagnosis of IIH is often made in a patient with intact consciousness. We present a teenager who developed altered consciousness while being treated for suspected meningitis and later found to have IIH. This case brings to the fore the need for a high index of suspicion even in situations where features appear atypical to avoid the unpleasant consequences of a misdiagnosis.

Keywords

• idiopathic intracranial hypertension
• altered consciousness
• adolescent girl
• nigeria