Untitled

Abstract

IntroductionNon-traumatic coma is the most common pediatric medical emergency. Their therapeutic and evolutionary profile remains controversial in resource-limited countries. We report our experience with 370 children. ObjectiveTo evaluate the management and evolution of nontraumatic comas in the intensive care unit of the Pediatric Hospital Complex of Bangui (CHUPB). Materials and methods: This was a descriptive and analytical cross-sectional study conducted between January 1 and June 31, 2021 at the CHUPB. Children aged 1 month to 15 years, admitted to the intensive care unit of CHUPB with a Glasgow score less than or equal to 8 in a trauma-free setting were included. Data were entered and analyzed using SPSS 20.0 statistical software. The statistical test used was Pearson's chi-square. Any p-value <0.05 was considered statistically significant. ResultDuring the study period, 370 children were admitted to the intensive care unit of CHUPB for non-traumatic coma. The sex ratio was 1.35 and the mean age was 35.95±27.21 months. Neuromalaria (29.72%), meningitis-meningoencephalitis-encephalitis (30%), septic states (19.72%) and acidotic coma (5.40%) were the main etiologies. The children had received emergency drug treatment based on anticonvulsants in 59.18% of cases, antipyretics in 91.35% of cases and dopamine 18.1% of cases. Drug treatment was adapted to the etiology in 44.60% of cases and probabilistic in 55.40% (n=205) of cases. Neurological sequelae were noted in 8.93% of cases and death in 36.48%, 57.77% of which occurred within the first 48 hours. ConclusionInfectious diseases are the predominant cause of biologically documented non-traumatic comas and are also the cause of non-documented clinical situations. This reality has induced the use of anti-infectives beyond the rational with an outcome marked by high mortality and sequelae. The transformation of these outcomes requires the reinforcement of the technical platform of the CHUPB.