BLOOD GLUCOSE LEVELS IN PEDIATRIC EMERGENCY ADMISSIONS IN JIMMA UNIVERSITY SPECIALIZED HOSPITAL, SOUTHWEST ETHIOPIA

  • Mitsiwa Ruffo
  • Netsanet Workneh

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Background: Abnormal blood glucose level is one of the problems encountered in children with severe illness. Different studies showed that hypoglycemia is associated with poor prognosis in many severe childhood illnesses especially in sub-Saharan Africa where the prevalence of malaria, diarrhea and malnutrition remains high. To the best of our knowledge there has not been any published work on this subject in Ethiopia; as a result abnormal blood glucose level in pediatric emergency admissions has not received enough attention.
Objective: To determine the pattern of blood glucose levels in pediatric emergency admissions.
Methodology: The study was conducted at pediatrics Emergency unit of the Jimma University Specialized Hospital, Oromia region,Southwest Ethiopia from May13, 2011 – June 12, 2011. The study design was a prospective cross-sectional and all nondiabetic children aged between 1 month to 14 years who were admitted to the emergency unit during the study period were included. Data was collected by trained medical person using structured questionnaire and by determining random blood glucose. After cleaning and coding, the data was analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) windows version 16.0. Relevant test of statistical association was employed.
Result: Six percent of children admitted to Jimma University specialized hospital had an abnormal blood glucose level on admission. Hyperglycemia (4.8%) was more common than hypoglycaemia (1.2%). However, there was a strong association between hypoglycaemia and mortality. Hypoglycemic children with severe illness or malnutrition were having impaired mentation, and died despite an urgent determination of blood glucose and treatment.
Conclusion: Hypoglycemia is less common as compared to hyperglycemia in pediatric emergency admissions to Jimma University specialized hospital but it was associated with worst outcome of management.
Published
2012-01-31