Case Report: Pediatric deep vein thrombosis: when pain in the leg becomes a telltale sign

IntroductionDeep vein thrombosis is rare in the pediatric population. It carries severe complications such as pulmonary embolism with high mortality. Since it shares presentation with other causes of acute limb pain, diagnosis might be delayed. Early detection of leg pain with immobility, fever, and swelling should raise an alarm for investigating deep vein thrombosis and prompt immediate management. We report a case of a child with chronic thrombocytosis and anemia diagnosed with deep vein thrombosis after sustaining an injury.Case presentationHere we report a case of a two-year-old boy presenting with right leg pain for two days with fever after sustaining a fall while playing. x-ray of the leg ruled out fracture, with further investigation showing a raised D-dimer, and a Doppler ultrasound confirming deep vein thrombosis of the right common femoral vein. Standard-of-care anticoagulants were initiated and later discharged on daily oral anticoagulants for six weeks, with scheduled biweekly follow-up clinics and hematologist review.ConclusionDeep vein thrombosis, though rare in the pediatric population, requires a high index of suspicion in those presenting with limb pain and risk factors such as trauma. Delay in recognition can lead to catastrophic complications such as pulmonary embolism and death.