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Hypoglycaemia in paediatric admissions in Mozambique
T Solomon1, J M Felix, M Samuel
1Nuffield Department of Clinical Medicine, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, UK.
Lancet (London, England)
|January 15, 1994
Summary
Hypoglycaemia (low blood sugar) is common in acutely ill children in Mozambique. It is linked to various diseases and significantly increases the risk of death, requiring prompt medical suspicion.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Infectious Diseases
- Metabolic Disorders
Background:
- Hypoglycaemia is a critical condition in pediatric acute care.
- Understanding its prevalence and associations is vital for improving patient outcomes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the incidence and clinical associations of hypoglycaemia in acutely ill children in Maputo, Mozambique.
- To assess the impact of hypoglycaemia on mortality in this population.
Main Methods:
- Prospective study of 603 children admitted to an acute medical pediatric service.
- Clinical data collection including diagnoses, symptoms, and outcomes.
- Statistical analysis to determine associations and relative risk.
Main Results:
- 43 out of 603 children (7.1%) presented with hypoglycaemia.
- Plasmodium falciparum malaria was associated with shorter illness duration, more convulsions, and focal neurological signs, but lower mortality compared to other hypoglycaemia causes.
- Hypoglycaemia complicated malnutrition, pneumonia, encephalitis, parasitic infections, and nephrotic syndrome.
- Mortality rate was significantly higher in hypoglycaemic children (16.3%) versus normoglycaemic children (3.2%), with a relative risk of death of 5.8.
Conclusions:
- Hypoglycaemia is a frequent and serious complication in hospitalized children in Mozambique.
- It is associated with increased mortality across various underlying pediatric diseases.
- Clinicians should maintain a high index of suspicion for hypoglycaemia in any acutely ill child, irrespective of the primary diagnosis.