Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 16, 2026

Improving IV Insulin Administration in a Community Hospital
12:08

Improving IV Insulin Administration in a Community Hospital

Published on: June 11, 2012

Hypoglycaemia in under-five children with diarrhoea

S Huq1, M I Hossain, M A Malek

  • 1Clinical Sciences Division, International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh (ICDDR), GPO Box 128, Dhaka 1000, Bangladesh.

Journal of Tropical Pediatrics
|March 28, 2007
PubMed

Insights

Hypoglycemia in children with diarrhea is linked to shorter illness duration, seizures, and higher fatality. Bacteraemia significantly increases hypoglycemia risk, suggesting bedside glucose testing aids in managing sepsis in resource-limited settings.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatrics
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Clinical Medicine

Background:

  • Diarrheal illnesses are a major cause of hospitalization in children under five.
  • Hypoglycemia is a serious complication of diarrheal diseases, particularly in resource-limited settings.
  • Identifying predictors of hypoglycemia is crucial for timely intervention and improved outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the clinical features of hypoglycemia in hospitalized children under five with diarrhea.
  • To identify predictors of hypoglycemia in this vulnerable population.
  • To inform clinical management and policy decisions for diarrheal disease care.

Main Methods:

  • Prospective study of 782 children under five with diarrheal illnesses.
  • Blood glucose levels measured when hypoglycemia was suspected.
  • Comparison between hypoglycemic (n=65) and non-hypoglycemic (n=195) groups.
  • Analysis of clinical features, including duration of diarrhea, convulsions, hospitalization, and mortality.
  • Logistic regression to identify independent predictors of hypoglycemia, including bacteraemia.

Main Results:

  • Hypoglycemia was identified in 11% of children tested.
  • Shorter pre-admission diarrhea duration (<72h), documented convulsions, shorter hospitalization (<72h), and higher case fatality rate were associated with hypoglycemia.
  • Bacteraemia was significantly more frequent in children who underwent rapid glucose testing.
  • Children with bacteraemia (clinical sepsis) were four times more likely to develop hypoglycemia (OR=4.2).

Conclusions:

  • Hypoglycemia is a significant clinical feature in under-five children with diarrhea.
  • Bacteraemia is a strong predictor of hypoglycemia in diarrheal illness.
  • Rapid bedside glucose testing can aid in diagnosing bacteraemia and guiding antibiotic treatment decisions in resource-limited healthcare settings.

Related Concept Videos

Hypoglycemia and Glucagon01:15

Hypoglycemia and Glucagon

Without prolonged fasting, healthy individuals maintain blood glucose levels above 3.5 mM due to a well-adapted neuroendocrine counterregulatory system that effectively prevents acute hypoglycemia, a potentially life-threatening condition. The primary clinical scenarios for hypoglycemia encompass diabetes treatment, inappropriate production of endogenous insulin or insulin-like substances by tumors, and the use of glucose-lowering agents in non-diabetic individuals. Notably, hypoglycemia in the...
Hypoglycemia01:26

Hypoglycemia

Hypoglycemia is a blood glucose level below 70 mg/dL. It commonly occurs in individuals using insulin or insulin-secreting drugs, but may also arise in non-diabetic conditions. People with type 1 diabetes are at the highest risk because they depend on exogenous insulin. People with type 2 diabetes are also at risk, especially when treated with insulin or medications such as sulfonylureas, which increase insulin release regardless of blood glucose levels. It develops when insulin levels exceed...
Diabetic Ketoacidosis l: Introduction01:25

Diabetic Ketoacidosis l: Introduction

DefinitionDiabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) is an acute, life-threatening complication of diabetes mellitus, characterized by a triad of hyperglycemia (blood glucose >250 mg/dL), ketonemia or ketonuria, and metabolic acidosis (arterial pH <7.30 and serum bicarbonate <18 mEq/L). It results from insulin deficiency combined with elevated levels of counterregulatory hormones—glucagon, catecholamines, cortisol, and growth hormone—leading to increased lipolysis, hepatic ketone production, and...
Hyperglycemia01:29

Hyperglycemia

Hyperglycemia is an abnormally high blood glucose level. It is diagnosed by fasting glucose ≥126 mg/dL, 2-hour oral glucose tolerance test (or OGTT) ≥200 mg/dL, random glucose ≥200 mg/dL with symptoms, or HbA1c ≥6.5%. However, HbA1c results may be unreliable in certain conditions, such as anemia or hemoglobinopathies, and the diagnosis should be confirmed unless classic symptoms are present. Postprandial hyperglycemia is typically considered significant when glucose levels exceed 180 mg/dL two...
SBAR II: Application of SBAR01:14

SBAR II: Application of SBAR

SBAR is an effective communication tool used by healthcare professionals to communicate patient information accurately. SBAR stands for Situation, Background, Assessment, and Recommendation. For a better understanding, an example is given below.
SBAR Report from a Nurse to a Health Care Provider
S: "Hello, Dr. Smith. This is Jane, RN, from the Med Surg unit. I am calling to tell you about Ms. White in Room 210, who is experiencing increased pain and redness at her incision site. Her recent...
Diabetes Mellitus: Overview and Type I Subtype01:22

Diabetes Mellitus: Overview and Type I Subtype

Diabetes mellitus is a chronic metabolic disorder characterized by high blood glucose levels due to inadequate insulin production, insulin resistance, or both. The condition affects millions worldwide and can significantly impact their health and quality of life.
Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease in which the immune system mistakenly attacks and destroys the insulin-producing beta cells in the pancreas. As a result, the body is unable to produce sufficient insulin, and individuals with...