Adipsic hypernatremia in a young Sudanese child, challenges in a limited-resource setting: a case report

Abstract

Adipsia is a rare condition characterized by a lack of thirst due to a defect in specific osmoreceptors located in the hypothalamus. The disorder is characterized by failure to maintain the body’s normal plasma osmolality (POSM), resulting in chronic or recurrent severe hypernatremia and dehydration. Adipsia is usually accompanied by central diabetes insipidus (DI). Isolated adipsia (without DI) is very rare, with causes ranging from congenital central nervous system malformations to acquired anterior hypothalamic lesions. The diagnosis and management of the condition are considerably challenging for both clinicians and patients/parents, especially in a resource-limited setting. We here in present the first case report of adipsia from Sudan; a young child with isolated adipsia, diagnosed after recurrent severe hypernatemic dehydration episodes. The report portrays the unique challenges in suspecting, diagnosing, and managing the condition in a limited-resource setting.