Sunset eyes in an infant are a late sign of which condition?

Sunset eyes in an infant are a late sign of which condition?

• A. Dehydration
• B. Meningitis
• C. Hypoglycemia
• D. Increased intracranial pressure

Answer: (D)

Sunset eyes in an infant indicate rising intracranial pressure. As pressure increases, the brainstem pathways that control eye movement become affected, causing the eyes to look downward with the sclera visible above the iris—this is the setting-sun sign. It tends to be a late finding because earlier symptoms like irritability, poor feeding, vomiting, lethargy, or a bulging fontanelle often precede it. It’s not typically seen with dehydration or hypoglycemia, and while meningitis has many neurologic signs, sunset eyes specifically point to increased intracranial pressure requiring urgent assessment and intervention.

Sunset eyes in an infant indicate rising intracranial pressure. As pressure increases, the brainstem pathways that control eye movement become affected, causing the eyes to look downward with the sclera visible above the iris—this is the setting-sun sign. It tends to be a late finding because earlier symptoms like irritability, poor feeding, vomiting, lethargy, or a bulging fontanelle often precede it. It’s not typically seen with dehydration or hypoglycemia, and while meningitis has many neurologic signs, sunset eyes specifically point to increased intracranial pressure requiring urgent assessment and intervention.