Publication:

Correlation of risk factors with Glasgow coma scale to predict the severity and outcome of children with non-traumatic coma

Background Non-traumatic coma is the problem of pediatric group, accounts 10-15% in hospital admissions. Assessment of the severity of coma is useful to speculate the survival. The aim was to assess outcome in pediatric non-traumatic coma with role of Glasgow coma scale and modified Glasgow coma scale.

Methods Total of 80 cases of non-traumatic coma between 1 month to 12 years, coma severity was assessed by using Glasgow coma scale. A score of less than 8 and more than 8 were used for analysis of outcome.

Results The maximum number of patents with non-traumatic coma were in the age group of 1 month-5 years, 40 children (50%). On neurological examination 42 (52.5%) children has GCS score of >8, 38 cases (47.5%) has GCS <8, 20 children had meningeal signs, 7 children had cranial nerve deficit (7th nerve), 9 children had decebrate posture. Out of 80 cases, 8 cases expired (10%), 4 cases were discharged against medical advice (4%), 68 cases were improved and discharged (85%), among these, 8 cases were discharged with complication (11.7%). Overall mortality was (10%) (8/80), males outnumbered females in frequency with ratio of 1.28:1. CNS infection accounted for almost about 66%.

Conclusions Children with GCS and MGCS scores of less than 8 have poor prognosis and a very high probability of death. Those with GCS score of more than 8 have good prognosis. Identification of these cases at the outset can help prepare the treating physician to plan critical care referral and to give a preliminary assessment of outcome to the family.