NON-TRAUMATIC COMA IN CHILDREN: CLINICAL PROFILE AND OUTCOME

OBJECTIVE To study the aetiology and clinical profile of non-traumatic coma in children and to determine the clinical signs predictive of outcome. METHODS 50 cases of non-traumatic coma between 2 months and 12 years were studied. Data collected include temperature, pulse rate, blood pressure, respiratory rate, Glasgow coma scale, papillary reflex, tone and fundus. Data was analysed by Chi-square test and Fisher exact test for differences in proportion of categorical variables between 2 or more groups. RESULTS Aetiology of coma in 58% of cases was infectious, other causes were status epilepticus (20%), metabolic (10%), intoxication (4%), intracranial bleed (2%) and miscellaneous (6%). Among the predictions of mortality - GCS <8, abnormal muscle tone and papillary reflex were found to be statistically significant (p<0.01). CONCLUSION CNS infections were the most common cause of non-traumatic coma in children. Simple clinical signs were good predictors of outcome.