Hypokalemia Among Children Having Acute Malnutrition with Diarrhea

Abstract

Diarrhea is one the most common symptoms encountered in emergency department in children specially and needs prompt management. There are many disastrous complications and hypokalemia is one and most important of them. Hypokalemia warrants urgent diagnosis and expert management. Objective: To determine the frequency of hypokalemia among children having acute malnutrition with diarrhea. Methods: This cross-sectional study was done in Department of Pediatrics, Khairpur Medical College from 1^st November 2021 to 30^th April 2022. A total of 134 patients fulfilling the inclusion criteria were included. Informed consent was taken from attendants. The data were collected on prepared proforma. Results: There were 134 patients in this study with The mean age of the cases was 2.4 ± 3.13 years. Male children 84 (62.6%) and were in majority while females comprising of 50(37.3%). Frequency of hypokalemia was 57 (42.5%). Conclusions: Our results showed that children with acute diarrhea and dehydration have an increased risk of developing hypernatremia and hypokalemia. Significant correlations were found between electrolyte imbalance and mortality.