RESUMO
Background: Hypoglycemia in malnourished child with diarrhea is a complicated situation faced by pediatrician in emergency department
Objective: To determine the frequency and outcome of hypoglycemia in severely malnourished children suffering from diarrhea at time of admission
Methodology: Study Design: Cross sectional study. Sampling Technique: Non probability, consecutive sampling. Setting and Duration of Study: This study was conducted in Pediatric Medicine Unit-1, Bahawal Victoria Hospital, Bahawalpur from 16th May to 15th November 2012. Total 184 patients were selected. All were suffering from severe malnutrition and had acute diarrhea at admission. Serum sugar levels of all patients were checked and results were noted on the performa. SPSS version 10 was used for data analysis
Results: Among the 184 children 56 [30.4%] were hypoglycemic and 128 [69.6%] were normoglycemic. 41 [67.21%] out of 56 children from hypoglycemic group while 20 [15.6%] out 128 children from normoglycemic group expired. The mortality was significantly more in hypoglycemic children. [P Value = 0.000]
Conclusion: The frequency of hypoglycemia and mortality in severely malnourished children suffering from diarrhea at the time of admission was significantly higher than normoglycemic children in this study