Aims:To determine the frequency and outcome of blood glucose abnormalities, in critically ill children requiring admission to pediatric emergency unit in Sohag University Hospital.
Methods:Prospective observational study, conducted on critically ill children admitted to emergency unit of Sohag University Hospital. Cases were recruited during the study period from September 2015 to April 2016.
Results: The prevalence of hypoglycaemiarepresenting 6% of all cases. Multivariate analysis of clinical variables associated with hypoglycemia showed thatlast meal >12 hours ago, and tachypnea are independent indicators of hypoglycaemia.Hyperglycemia was detected in 15.4 % of all cases.
Patients with abnormal blood glucose measurements had mean length of hospital stay (LOS) 7.7± 10.02 days, compared to patients with normal blood glucose measurements 8.1± 8.07 days.PICU admission was found to be more in patients with abnormal blood glucose measurements (23.1%) compared to patients with normal blood glucose measurements (3.4%).Most of patients who had normal blood glucose measurements were discharged well (77.4%), whereas (55.6%) of patients who were observed to have hypoglycemia died, and (25.5%) of patients who were observed to have hyperglycemia died.
Conclusions:Abnormal glucose concentrations are common in critically ill children. Where facilities for blood glucose estimation exist, blood glucose should be measured in all children sick enough to warrant admission, particularly those severely ill or malnourished children and who bear the brunt of mortality.