Introduction
Nontraumatic coma in children is an important pediatric emergency and accounts for high morbidity and mortality in pediatric-age group. It can cause different etiologies.
Patients and methods
The study was performed at the 'Emergency Unit, Intensive care, Neurologic Unit' Assiut University Children Hospital that included 80 patients.
Results
The mean age of patients enrolled in the study was 37.36 months with maximum age of 15 years. In addition, there was equal percentage of male to female (50.0%). However, there was a significant difference between outcome and age of patients ( < 0.05). The mean value of modified Glasgow Coma Scale was 8.73. There was a significant difference ( < 0.05) between outcome and vital signs of patients with a higher number of died patients than survival patients. There was 56.25% of patients who had central nervous system infection.
Conclusion
Assessment of vital signs such as low pulse volume, abnormal or respiratory rate, and abnormal oculocephalic reflexes were strong predictors of death following severe nontraumatic coma. The study also reaffirms that clinical variables and Glasgow Coma Scale score remain the most readily available tools for assessment of nontraumatic coma.