Blood sugar in infantile gastro-enteritis

Area of Science:

• Pediatrics
• Endocrinology
• Gastroenterology

Background:

• Dehydration in infants due to gastroenteritis is a common clinical problem.
• Blood sugar abnormalities can occur in infants with severe illness.
• Understanding these metabolic disturbances is crucial for effective management.

Purpose of the Study:

• To survey blood sugar levels in infants presenting with dehydration and gastroenteritis.
• To investigate the correlation between blood sugar levels and clinical factors such as malnutrition, hypothermia, and serum sodium.
• To determine the impact of abnormal blood sugar on mortality rates.

Main Methods:

• A survey of 868 infants aged 2-35 months with dehydration from gastroenteritis.
• Measurement of blood sugar levels.
• Analysis of associations between blood sugar levels and clinical parameters.

Main Results:

• 7.9% of infants had blood sugar levels between 0-50 mg/100 ml (hypoglycemia).
• 10.2% of infants had blood sugar levels over 200 mg/100 ml (hyperglycemia).
• Hypoglycemia was more prevalent in malnourished infants; both hypo- and hyperglycemia were associated with higher mortality and hypothermia.

Conclusions:

• Abnormal blood sugar levels are common in infants with dehydration from gastroenteritis.
• Blood sugar abnormalities are associated with malnutrition, hypothermia, and increased mortality.
• No correlation was observed between blood sugar and serum sodium levels in this cohort.