Stomachache hinted at a rare pediatric killer: a 5-year-old’s battle with Clarkson’s disease
A 5-year-old on a family vacation in Oregon developed a stomachache and vomiting that rapidly escalated to a life-threatening case of Clarkson’s disease (systemic capillary leak syndrome). The rare diagnosis, typically seen in adults and with few pediatric cases, caused plasma leakage, edema, and distributive shock, leading to the child’s death after extensive life-support efforts. The case underscores how difficult it is to diagnose this condition in children and that there is no established cure, with fundraising supporting the family.
