Clinical Profile of Diabetic Ketoacidosis in Indian Children

Objective To study the clinical profile of the Indian children admitted with DKA. Methods This descriptive retrospective study was conducted in pediatric ICU of tertiary level care hospital at Delhi (between Jan 2008 and Jan 2010). The case records of 55 children admitted with DKA were reviewed and information with respect to the personal details, clinical features, laboratory parameters, management and outcome was recorded using a predesigned performa.The data was analyzed using SPSS version 16. Results The mean age of patients at presentation was 7.4± 3.9 y; 27 boys and 28 girls were enrolled. Diabetes was newly diagnosed in 56.4% patients and 43.6% were known cases of diabetes. Polyuria and polydipsia (54.5%), persistent vomiting (52.7%), altered sensorium (50.9%), abdominal pains (47.3%) were common presenting symptoms. Most of the children had dehydration at admission, one fourth being severe. Hypernatremia, hypokalemia, cerebral edema and renal failure were observed in 20%, 14.5%, 14.5% and 7.2% , respectively. While 12.72% had fatal outcome, cerebral edema with or without renal failure and sepsis accounted for most of the deaths. Conclusions Boys and girls were equally affected. Newly diagnosed diabetics constituted more >50% of total DKA admissions. Nearly two third presented with severe DKA. Renal failure, cerebral edema and sepsis contributed to adverse outcome.