2566

PATTERN OF CHILDHOOD DIABETIC KETOACIDOSIS

Abusrewil S, Algoudi A, Aoun A.

Paediatric Endocrinology & Diabetes Department, Tripoli Medical Center, Tripoli, Libya

A prospective study for the period of Aug.,1997 to Dec. ,1999. It included all the patients who were admitted with diabetic Ketoacidosis-DKA, was carried out. It includes all the children who were admitted with DKA as newly or previously diagnosed children with IDDM. All were presented with polyuria, polydepsia, high blood sugar, and ketonuria.

280 children caused 469 admission with DKA. Mean age of presentation was 11 years. There was no significant sex difference. Preschool and primary school children caused most of the admissions.

Infection and noncompliance with insulin were the two leading causes of DKA. Although in 50% of cases, no obvious cause could be found 32% of the children have family history of DM. The average hospital stay was 3 days, most children were treated with intramuscular soluble insulin at 4-6 hours intervals, very few children needed ICU admissions and there were no severe morbidity, and no mortality.

Childhood DKA management nowadays should not be difficult in the presence of a proper and continuous supervision and education for the family and staff.