A Descriptive Study of Sepsis among Children Hospitalized at the Pediatric Department of Maiwand Teaching Hospital

Abstract

ABSTRACT

Introduction: Sepsis is a serious and potentially life-threatening condition, particularly in children. It occurs when the body's immune response to infection becomes dysregulated, leading to widespread inflammation, tissue damage, and organ dysfunction.

Objective: To describe sepsis among children hospitalized in the pediatric department.

Methods: A retrospective analysis of medical records of children admitted with a diagnosis of sepsis between January 2022 and May 2023 was conducted. Data collected on demographics, clinical signs, diseases with sepsis, breastfeeding, types of tests, diagnosis, and antibiotic therapy were collected. The appropriateness of initial antibiotic choice and timely modifications based on clinical signs and established guidelines were evaluated.

Results: In the study, 60 patients with sepsis aged 1 to 10 years were included, with 48.8% male and 51.7% female. Of these, 97% were diagnosed with sepsis, while 3% were diagnosed with septic shock. The duration of hospitalization ranged between 1-8 days. In addition to clinical symptoms, sepsis was diagnosed by blood test in 71.7%, urine test in 23.3%, and sputum test in 3% of cases. The discharge rate was 71.7%, while the mortality rate was 3.3%.

Conclusions: The study provides valuable insights into the clinical characteristics and management of sepsis and septic shock in children, with a relatively lower mortality rate compared to some other studies. Overall, the significance of early recognition and treatment of sepsis in children and the appropriate use of laboratory tests to aid in diagnosis and guide treatment decisions.