Acute kidney injury in Pediatric Intensive Care Unit: Incidence, risk factors, and outcome.

OBJECTIVE: To determine incidence, risk factors, and outcome of acute kidney injury (AKI) in Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU). MATERIALS AND METHODS: This is a prospective, observational study conducted in PICU of Department of Paediatrics, S.P. Medical College, Bikaner, from October 2013 to May 2014. In this study, 536 patients of aged 29 days to 16 years were screened for AKI according to the Pediatric Risk, Injury, Failure, Loss, End-stage Renal Disease (pRIFLE) criteria. Their clinical and biochemical data were recorded and followed up to their discharge/death. RESULTS: During the study period, 230 (42.9%) out of 536 patients developed AKI. Younger age (<5 years) and females (P ≤ 0.013) were more prone to develop AKI. Most common etiologies were septicemia, multiple organ dysfunction syndrome (MODS), gastroenteritis, and severe malaria (P ≤ 0.05). The maximal stage of AKI was stage "R" (49.1%), followed by "I" (29.5%) and "F" (21.3%). Major PICU-related risk factors were use of vasoactive drug (VD) and nephrotoxic drug (ND) and need of mechanical ventilation (MV) (P ≤ 0.05). Length of stay was significantly longer than non-AKI patients (P ≤ 0.05). Mortality in AKI (47.5%) was higher (P ≤ 0.05%) in comparison to non-AKI (25.56%). CONCLUSION: AKI is common in critically sick children, especially in younger age and in females with septicemia and MODS. Use of VD and ND and need of MV are common risk factors. AKI is associated with longer hospital stay and higher mortality. pRIFLE is better diagnostic criteria in early detection of AKI and reduction of their morbidity and mortality.

Thrombocytopenia in childhood malaria with special reference to P. vivax monoinfection: A study from Bikaner (Northwestern India).

Thrombocytopenia is commonly seen in Plasmodium vivax malaria, but its prognostic value has not been addressed in children. This prospective study included 676 admitted children of malaria [Plasmodium falciparum (Pf) monoinfection 262, Plasmodium vivax (Pv) monoinfection 380, and mixed (Pf + Pv) infection 34], in which thrombocytopenia (platelet count <150 × 10(3)/mm(3) on admission) was found in 442 (65.38%) children [Pf monoinfection 55.3% (145/262), Pv monoinfection 73.16% (278/380), and mixed infection 55.88% (19/34)]. The association of thrombocytopenia was statistically significant with Pv monoinfection [73.16% (278/380)] in comparison to either Pf monoinfection [55.34% (145/262); odds ratio (OR) = 2.199 (95% confidence interval (CI) 1.577-3.068), p < 0.0001] or mixed infection [55.88% (19/34); OR = 2.152 (95%CI 1.054-4.394), p = 0.032]. In Pv monoinfection, thrombocytopenia was highest in 0-5 years age group and subsequently decreased with advancing age, whereas in Pf monoinfection it was reverse. Severe thrombocytopenia (platelet count <20 × 10(3)/mm(3)) was present in 16.52% (73/442) children [Pv monoinfection 21.58% (60/278) and Pf monoinfection 8.97% (13/145)]. The risk of developing severe thrombocytopenia was also highest in Pv monoinfection [15.79% (60/380)] in comparison to Pf monoinfection [10.59% (13/262); OR = 3.591 (95%CI 1.928-6.690), p < 0.0001]. Bleeding manifestations were associated in 21.27% (94/442) children [Pf monoinfection 9.92% (26/262), Pv monoinfection 16.58% (63/380), and mixed malaria 14.71% (5/34)]. All the children having bleeding manifestations had thrombocytopenia but low platelet counts were not always associated with abnormal bleeding. The association of severe malaria was significantly more among children having Pv monoinfection with platelet counts <20 × 10(3)/mm(3) [OR = 2.569 (95%CI 1.196-5.517), p < 0.014] with specificity of 88.3% and positive predictive value of 85%. Till today, thrombocytopenia is not included in severe malaria criterion described by WHO, but when platelet counts <20 × 103/mm(3), we advocate it to include as one of the severe malaria criteria.

Psychosocial Illness in Children with Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus: Prevalence, Pattern and Risk Factors.

INTRODUCTION: Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus (T1DM) and psychosocial illness influence each other in multiple ways. The extent of psychosocial disorders in children with T1DM remains largely unstudied in India. AIM: To assess the prevalence, severity, pattern and variables affecting psychosocial illness in children with type 1 diabetes mellitus. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This observational study included 84 children (6-14 years of age) having T1DM at least for 1 year and 100 non diabetic children for comparison. "DSM-5 parent/guardian-Rated Level 1 & 2 Cross-Cutting Symptom Measure -Child age 6-17" was used to assess psychosocial illness, specific domains and severity. Socio-demographic variables were studied and HbA1c levels were measured. RESULTS: Significantly higher prevalence of psychosocial illness was observed in children with T1DM as compared with non diabetic group (55.95% vs 20%; p<0.0001). The prevalence for mild, moderate and severe psychosocial illness was 8.33%, 27.38% and 20.24% respectively in diabetic children. Most common psychosocial abnormality was irritation (38.1%), followed by depression (36.9%) and anxiety (32.1%). The prevalence of psychosocial illness was significantly higher in T1DM patients with poorer metabolic control (HbA1c>7.5, p=0.014). Significant association of psychosocial illness was also noticed with poor dietary compliance (p=0.021) and higher mean HbA1c level (p<0.001). CONCLUSION: This study established T1DM as a risk factor for development of psychosocial illness. Irritation, depression and anxiety were most common abnormalities. Significant association of psychosocial illness with poor dietary compliance and poor metabolic control was observed. Psychosocial assessment of every diabetic child is suggested for optimal management.

Clinical features of children hospitalized with malaria--a study from Bikaner, northwest India.

Severe Plasmodium vivax malaria in adults has been reported from Bikaner (northwestern India) but the reports on children are scanty. This prospective study was done on 303 admitted children of malaria. The diagnosis was done by peripheral blood smear and rapid diagnostic test. Further confirmation of severe P. vivax monoinfection was done by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The proportion of P. falciparum, P. vivax, and mixed (P. falciparum and P. vivax) infection was 61.01%, 33.99%, and 4.95%, respectively. Severe disease was present in 49.5% (150/303) children with malaria, with the risk greatest among P. vivax monoinfection (63.1% [65/103]) compared with P. falciparum, either alone (42.7% [79/185]; odds ratio [OR] = 2.3 [95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.40-3.76], P = 0.001) or mixed infections (40% [6/15]; OR = 2.57 [95% CI = 0.88-7.48]). In children < 5 years of age, the proportion of severe malaria attributable to P. vivax rose to 67.4% (31/46) compared with 30.4% (14/46) of P. falciparum (OR = 4.7 [95% CI = 2.6-8.6], P < 0.0001) and 2.2% (1/46) of mixed infection (OR = 92 [95% CI = 24.6-339.9], P < 0.0001). The proportion of patients having severe manifestations, which included severe anemia, thrombocytopenia, cerebral malaria, acute respiratory distress syndrome, hepatic dysfunction, renal dysfunction, abnormal bleeding was significantly high in association with P. vivax monoinfection in 0-5 year age group, while the same was significantly high in association with P. falciparum monoinfection in 5-10 year age group. Similarly P. vivax monoinfection had greatest propensity to cause multiorgan dysfunction in 0-5 year age group (34.1% [17/41], P < 0.0001) in comparison to P. falciparum monoinfection, which had similar propensity in 5-10 year age group (36.8% [35/95], P = 0.039). Plasmodium vivax monoinfection was almost equally serious to cause significant mortality in comparison to P. falciparum (case fatality rate of severe P. vivax was 3.9% versus 3.2% of severe P. falciparum malaria; P = 1.0). This study reaffirms the evidence of severe P. vivax malaria in children in Bikaner.