Evaluation of Serum Potassium Level in Pediatric Gastroenteritis at Children – Welfare Teaching Hospital

Authors

  • Mohanad Adnan Bakr Baghdad Teaching Hospital, Medical City, Baghdad, Iraq.
  • Ghazi Farhan Haji Department of Medicine, Al-kindy College of Medicine, Baghdad University, Baghdad, Iraq.
  • Fadil Agla Al-Rubaye Baghdad Teaching Hospital, Medical City, Baghdad, Iraq.
  • Asaad Abullah Abbas Baghdad Teaching Hospital, Medical City, Baghdad, Iraq.

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.22317/imj.v4i2.813

Keywords:

Serum Potassium, Pediatric Gastroenteritis, Hypokalemia

Abstract

Objective: To measure the incidence of the hypokalemia in children who are suffered from acute gastroentitis and to estimate their complications.

Method: A prospective  clinical study, is enrolled (153) patients from 1st of January 2017 to  1st of December 2017, at the Children-Welfare Teaching Hospital and it is included the children from ( 1-5 years ) who are firstly admitted to the emergency department and then to the pediatric wards who were  suffered from acute gastroentitis and their serum potassium levels were below (3.5 mmol/l )and is excluded the children with a chronic diarrhea or a bloody diarrhea or with any nutritional diseases, like  marasmus disease, kwashiorkor  or  iron deficiency  anemia disease or parenteral  diarrhea, like ( pneumonia, UTI), or   their ages either below ( 1year )  or more than ( 5 years )  and the study depends on history and physical examination and serial serum potassium levels.

Result: A total of (153) patients with acute gastroenteritis were included in a study, (91) male patients, (62) female patients with male to female ratio (1.4:1), the majority of the patients were from urban areas. In this study, 61(39%) of patients with acute gastroenteritis were complicated by hypokalemia, 92(61%) were not. Of  those with a severe dehydration, 11(23%) had a mild hypokalemia, 17(36%) a moderate, 19(41%) a severe one, patients with a moderate dehydration, 7(50%) had a mild hypokalemia, 5(38%) a moderate, 2(15%) a severe one .Concerning the main complain, 65(44%), had both diarrhea and vomiting, 61(39%), had only diarrhea, 28(17%), had only vomiting.  According to degree of dehydration, there were 72(47%) with moderate dehydration, 81(53%) with a severe dehydration. UOP is poor in (70) with a severe dehydration, and (21) with a moderate dehydration, and is good in (8) with a moderate dehydration, (53) with a severe dehydration. The percentages of the complications were 51(83%), had generalized weakness, 10(17%), and had both generalized weakness and paralytic ileus.

Conclusion: Children with acute gastroenteritis were complicated by a hypokalemia 61(39%) paralytic ileus. Diarrhea and vomiting were the commonest complaint of acute gastroenteritis.

References

1. John A. Acute Gastroenteritis and Hypokalemia. In: Peter R, Robert S, Roger M, William G, editors .Rosen Textbook of Emergency Medicine. 8th edition. New York: McGraw –Hill Co; 2014: p.2500-2516.
2. Danial A, Stephen H. Acute Gastroenteritis and Complications. In: David M, Rita K, Garth D, editors. Tintinall Textbook of Emergency Medicine. 8th edition. New York: McGraw-Hill Co; 2016:p. 1020 -1029.
3. Henderson J, Mclntosh N, Symth R. Acute Gastroenteritis and Complications. Arueil’s Textbook of Pediatrics. 8th Edition. Edinburg: McGraw-Hill Co. 2016: p. 788-789.
4. Corrall C. Acute Gastroenteritis and Management. In: Scott H, Wipfler E. NMS Textbook of Emergency Medicine. 8th edition. New York: McGram –Hill Co; 2010: p. 417-422.
5. Kayleen D. Hypokalemia and Hyperkalemia in Infants and Children: Pathophysiology and Treatment. Journal of Pediatric Health Care. 2013: 27(6); 986-494.
6. Miraz S. Prevalence of Electrolytes Disorders Among Cases of Diarrhea and Correction of Electrolytes Levels with Age of Patients. Journal of College of Physicians and Surgeons Pakistan. 2016: 26(5); 394-398.
7. Goldman R. Validation of the Clinical Dehydration Scale for Pediatrics. Journal of American Academy of Pediatric. 2018:122; 545-550.
8. Lehnhardit A. Pathogenesis, Diagnosis and Management of Hypokalemia. Pediatric Nephrology. 2011: 26; 377-38.
9. Weisberg L. Management of Sever Hypokalemia. Journal of Critical Care Medicine. 2008:36(12); 1-6.
10. Hollander J. Hypokalemia. Journal of American Family Physician. 2016:73(2); 283-290.
11. Gennari F. Hypokalemia. New England Journal of Pediatrics. 2015: 339; 451-458.
12. Schaefer T. Disorders of Potassium. Emergency Medicine Clinics of North America. 2012: 23(3); 723-747.
13. Begum J. Impact of Electrolytes Disturbances Outcomes of Acute Diarrhea in Children. DS (child) Health. 2010: 26; 36-40.
14. Adam D. Management of Gastroenteritis in Children under Five years. New England Journal of Pediatrics. 2015: 29(27); 51-57.
15. Amon K. Determining The Common Medical Problems to Children with Accidental and Emergency Department Admission. Archives of Diseases in Children. 2001: 84(5); 390-392.
16. Lee W. Impact on parents during the hospitalization for acute diarrhea in children. Singapore Medical Journal. 2012: 53(11); 755-759.
17. Memon Y. Serum electrolytes changes in Pediatric Gastroenteritis. Pakistan Journal of Medical Sociatey.2007: 23; 760-764.
18. Scott H. Clinical Aspects of Gastroenteritis in Children. Journal of American Academy of Pediatrics. 2003: 111(3); 455-460.
19. Aude M. Epidemiology of Acute Gastroenteritis in Children Hospitalization in Rouen, France. Journal of Clinical Infectious Diseases.2002: 34(9); 1170-1178.

Downloads

Published

2020-06-26

How to Cite

1.
Bakr MA, Haji GF, Al-Rubaye FA, Abbas AA. Evaluation of Serum Potassium Level in Pediatric Gastroenteritis at Children – Welfare Teaching Hospital. Iraq Med J [Internet]. 2020 Jun. 26 [cited 2024 Nov. 21];4(2). Available from: https://iraqmedj.org/index.php/imj/article/view/813

Issue

Section

Articles