CLINICAL SPECTRUM OF CHILDREN PRESENTING WITH ALTERED SENSORIUM TO PEDIATRIC EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT.

Dr.Bhavya.V; Dr.R.Rama Krishna Paramahamsa

Volume : VIII, Issue : I, January - 2019

CLINICAL SPECTRUM OF CHILDREN PRESENTING WITH ALTERED SENSORIUM TO PEDIATRIC EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT.

Dr. Bhavya. V, Dr. R. Rama Krishna Paramahamsa

Abstract :

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: To determine the prevalence and to assess the cause of altered sensorium in critically ill children. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A prospective descriptional study was done on 36 children who came to Pediatric emergency department of GSL hospital with history of altered sensorium, between July 2017 to August 2018. The sample was classified into two groups, one with primary (CNS) cause and the other with systemic and miscellaneous causes, attributed to cause of altered sensorium. Children were examined clinically and investigated as required, metabolic screening like serum electrolytes, serum calcium, serum glucose, lumbar puncture CSF analysis, CT scan and MRI as and when required. Results: Pre-school children were affected with slight majority, while the least affected belonged to adolescent age group. A large proportion of children who were admitted with the diagnosis of intracranial infections, which was followed by systemic disease – causing altered sensorium. Conclusion: Though, altered sensorium is mainly caused by intracranial infections, it is not to be forgotten as a complication of systemic disease. This study confirms intracranial infections are primarily pyogenic followed by viral etiology. Systemic diseases causing altered sensorium include DKA, severe anemia with cardiac failure and acute renal failure.