[Hyperosmolar hyperglycemic coma in a 10-year-old patient].

A ten-year-old patient referred to a child ambulatory for preoperative examination suddenly falls unconscious. The physical finding and laboratory results suggest hyperosmolar hyperglycaemic coma. The authors describe the clinical course and therapeutic procedure. They draw attention to adequate fluid and ion repletion, to the importance of their balancing and to possible complications of treatment.