What causes brain swelling? My 2 1/2 year old grandson Alex took 18 sleeping?

pills. He is in a coma having seizures. The doctors say his brain is swelling. Can an overdose of sleeping pills make your brain swell? He lives in California with his mom and 3 yr. old sister Ana. My granddaughter was put in foster care. I am having trouble believing the mother's story of how this happened. Alex is @ CHOC which is a children's hospital. I am presently living in Iowa. That is 1,800 miles away from my grandkids. It has been difficult to find out any info. This happened last Friday afternoon and she didn't call my son until 11 p.m. Saturday night. She informed us that he was doing better. It wasn't until yesterday when my son spoke with a doctor that we realized that it is doubtful that he will pull through. He is a tough little boy just like his dad. But swelling of the brain!? I always associated brain swelling with head injury. I've tried researching this on the web but I would appreciate some first hand knowledge. Thanks.

i believe the coma was medically/drug induced. as of yesterday Saturday March 31st he was breathing on his own. things seem to be looking better. miracles can happen?

First of all, I am truly sorry this has happened. I am always saddened to hear of children suffering from any pain, whether it be something "natural" like a disease, or from abuse. My heart goes out to you and your family.

To answer your question, brain swelling (hydrocephalus) is a rare disorder, and the swelling itself is more of a condition of brain injury (trauma or shaken baby syndrome) or disease. If he is in a coma (was it a medically/drug induced or natural?) and seizing, this is called "status epilepticus" and is very dangerous, causing mental retardation and possibly death.

MY FIRST HAND KNOWLEDGE: My little sister was 3 years old when she had a status epilepticus episode. The cause was a bout of influenza she could not kick, despite several rounds of antibiotics. It eventually turned into pneumonia. One day she was napping and we went to wake her for lunch, only we could not wake her. We called her name, tapped her cheek, put a cold, wet washcloth on her face, anything that would wake her....nothing worked. Then we realized how warm she was...we took a temperature and realized it was 104 degrees and rising. We rushed her to the ER where they told us she was having a "status" episode and although she looked like she was sleeping, her brain was seizing. They administered Valium and Phenobarbital and put her in a drug-induced coma, and she lingered there for 3 days. When she recovered, she was diagnosed with profound mental retardation. She is 17 yo now, and functions as a 6-9 month old...she wears diapers, drools, and has to be fed.

My suggestion, if it is at all possible, try to go to California to speak with the doctors yourself and see Alex instead of relying on second-hand information from his mother when she "decides" to give it to you. This child needs someone in his corner. Someone to fight for him, because he cannot fight for himself.

I don't have the answer to the question, but by heart goes out to you,,,,,Hopefully your son can get custody of your grandaughter AND your grandson if he does pull through,,,,,I will try to do some research and come back if I can find anything out,,,,,,,Can you contact your local Doctor and ask what could be causing the swelling???? Hopefully some one on answers will be able to help you and ease your mind, if that is possible,,,,,,,And get those children,,,,,

The brain swelling in this case is not due to the medications but most likely due to the uncontrollable seizures.

i would agree and say it would be the seizures

I wish I could give you some information of the subject but all I can lend are my prayers for your grandson. I hope everything turns out alright for you.