Abstract
Coarctation of the aorta is an obstructive form of congenital heart defects that presents with upper limb hypertension. If untreated, Coarctation of the aorta can lead to left ventricular dysfunction and cerebral vasculopathy. Missed diagnosis due to its subtle presentation is common with attendant complications. This is a case report of an apparently healthy 3-year-old boy who lapsed into a coma after a trivial fall. He had upper limb hypertension and the pulses in the lower limbs were barely palpable. Brain computed tomography (CT) revealed non-traumatic haemorrhagic stroke and echocardiography showed severe left ventricular hypertrophy and severe coarctation of the aorta. Coarctation of the aorta can manifest as chronic upper limb hypertension in children with complicated non-traumatic haemorrhagic stroke. Routine blood pressure measurement in young children can serve as a screening tool for early diagnosis of the condition.