A 12 month old is brought into ED by her mother with a 4 day history of diarrhoea and vomiting. On triage assessment, she appears alert and responsive but slightly miserable. She has no other symptoms and no past medical history. Her observations are:
What is the most appropriate next management?
Hypoglycaemia is a blood glucose level (BGL) low enough to cause signs and/or symptoms of impaired brain function and neurogenic response. It cannot be defined by a specific BGL as thresholds for specific brain responses to hypoglycaemia occur across a range of BGLs and can be influenced by the presence of alternative fuels such as ketones or lactate. Neurogenic symptoms are perceived at a BGL < 3.0 mmol/l, which in older children and adults triggers a search for food or assistance. Cognitive function is impaired at a BGL concentration < 2.8mmol/l.
A BGL < 2.6 mmol/l is generally regarded as a level at which prompt investigation and treatment is required regardless of the presence of symptoms.
Notes:
Hypoglycaemia screen:
If sampling is difficult, the most important tests to collect at the time of hypoglycaemia are:
In a child with hypoglycaemia associated with diabetes mellitus, follow diabetes guidelines. The guidelines below are for management of hypoglycaemia in a child not known to have diabetes mellitus.
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Biochemistry | Normal Value |
---|---|
Sodium | 135 – 145 mmol/l |
Potassium | 3.0 – 4.5 mmol/l |
Urea | 2.5 – 7.5 mmol/l |
Glucose | 3.5 – 5.0 mmol/l |
Creatinine | 35 – 135 μmol/l |
Alanine Aminotransferase (ALT) | 5 – 35 U/l |
Gamma-glutamyl Transferase (GGT) | < 65 U/l |
Alkaline Phosphatase (ALP) | 30 – 135 U/l |
Aspartate Aminotransferase (AST) | < 40 U/l |
Total Protein | 60 – 80 g/l |
Albumin | 35 – 50 g/l |
Globulin | 2.4 – 3.5 g/dl |
Amylase | < 70 U/l |
Total Bilirubin | 3 – 17 μmol/l |
Calcium | 2.1 – 2.5 mmol/l |
Chloride | 95 – 105 mmol/l |
Phosphate | 0.8 – 1.4 mmol/l |
Haematology | Normal Value |
---|---|
Haemoglobin | 11.5 – 16.6 g/dl |
White Blood Cells | 4.0 – 11.0 x 109/l |
Platelets | 150 – 450 x 109/l |
MCV | 80 – 96 fl |
MCHC | 32 – 36 g/dl |
Neutrophils | 2.0 – 7.5 x 109/l |
Lymphocytes | 1.5 – 4.0 x 109/l |
Monocytes | 0.3 – 1.0 x 109/l |
Eosinophils | 0.1 – 0.5 x 109/l |
Basophils | < 0.2 x 109/l |
Reticulocytes | < 2% |
Haematocrit | 0.35 – 0.49 |
Red Cell Distribution Width | 11 – 15% |
Blood Gases | Normal Value |
---|---|
pH | 7.35 – 7.45 |
pO2 | 11 – 14 kPa |
pCO2 | 4.5 – 6.0 kPa |
Base Excess | -2 – +2 mmol/l |
Bicarbonate | 24 – 30 mmol/l |
Lactate | < 2 mmol/l |