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Pediatric hyperglycemic hyperosmolar syndrome: diagnostic difficulties and high mortality rate
Joel B Cochran1, Scott Walters, Joseph D Losek
1Pediatric Department, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC 29425, USA.
The American Journal of Emergency Medicine
|April 26, 2006
Summary
Childhood obesity is linked to a 10-fold increase in type 2 diabetes. A severe complication, hyperglycemic hyperosmolar syndrome (HHS), has a high mortality rate in children, underscoring the need for early diagnosis and treatment.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Endocrinology
- Public Health
Background:
- Childhood obesity is a global epidemic, contributing to a significant rise in type 2 diabetes mellitus.
- Type 2 diabetes in children is increasingly complicated by serious conditions like hyperglycemic hyperosmolar syndrome (HHS).
Observation:
- This report details a case of a newly diagnosed hyperglycemic hyperosmolar syndrome (HHS) in an obese adolescent.
- Data from 17 additional pediatric HHS cases were reviewed, alongside the presented case, totaling 18 patients.
Findings:
- The combined case series revealed a high mortality rate of 72% (13 out of 18 patients) among children with HHS.
- Demographic and clinical characteristics of these pediatric HHS cases are presented.
Implications:
- Early diagnosis and prompt treatment are critical for improving outcomes in pediatric hyperglycemic hyperosmolar syndrome (HHS).
- This highlights the urgent need for increased awareness and management strategies for HHS in pediatric populations.
- Further research into risk factors and effective interventions for pediatric HHS is warranted.
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