Therapeutic and Evolutionary Aspects of Non-Traumatic Comas in Central African Children

Abstract

Olivier Brice Bogning Mejiozem, Moyen Engoba, Evodie Pierrette Bogning Kakounguere, and Jean Chrysos-tome Gody

Introduction: Non-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.

Objective: To 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.

Result: During 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.

Conclusion: Infectious 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.

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