Infantile Water Intoxication After a Swimming Lesson

This report emphasizes a danger inherent in early infant swimming programs, ie, the need to observe the infant closely for ingestion of excessive amounts of water. A physician faced with a history compatible with near-drowning or possible aspiration of water must consider the diagnosis of acute water intoxication. Accidental ingestion of water can produce hyponatremia with resulting signs and symptoms of acute water intoxication, ie, lethargy, vomiting, seizures, and increased intracranial pressure.