European Journal of Cardiovascular Medicine

Background: Type I Diabetes Mellitus is the most common endocrine-metabolic disorder of childhood and adolescent. Diabetic ketoacidosis is a potentially life-threatening complication among children, characterized by triad of hyperglycemia, ketosis and academia, accounting for majority of hospital admissions and deaths related to Diabetes in children.  Early diagnosis and prompt management substantially reduces the mortality. Objectives: This study was done to evaluate clinical profile, severity, complications and immediate outcome of patients admitted in PICU with Diabetic Ketoacidosis. Results: Out of 30 children included in our study, 70% were females(n21) and 30% were males(n9). Newly diagnosed diabetics accounted for 17 (56.5%) of the patients. The common presenting complaints of DKA in our study was altered sensorium (100%), rapid breathing (93%), vomiting (80%) and abdominal pain (73%) followed by polyuria (63%), polydipsia (60%), weight loss (50%) and fever (40%). Amongst all 30 cases, 20 patients (66%)had moderate dehydration meanwhile 10(33.3%) had severe dehydration. Complications like Hypokalaemia (20%), other electrolyte imbalance (16%) like hypocalcaemia, hyponatremia, superadded infection (26%) like upper and lower respiratory tract infection, acute febrile illnesses were commonly encountered in our study and 11(36%) cases of DKA were not associated with any complications. Out of 30, 5 (16%) children had mild DKA, 13(43%) children had moderate DKA and 12 (40%) children have severe DKA. In our study, all patients recovered and were shifted to ward with mortality of 0%. Conclusion: DKA was most prevalent in newly diagnosed IDDM cases. Infections was the most common precipitating factor. No lethal complications were recorded in our study.