Hyperglycaemia in infantile gastroenteritis

SUMMARY The prevalence and pathogenesis of hyperglycaemia were investigated in a consecutive series of 27 black infants admitted to hospital with gastroenteritis over a period of three months. Hyperglycaemia (plasma glucose concentration greater than 10 mmol/l) occurred in 15 (55%) of these patients. The pathogenesis was not clear but possible contributory factors included raised concentrations of the stress hormones pancreatic glucagon, growth hormone, and cortisol; hypokalaemia; and peripheral insulin resistance. Intravenous rehydration, without insulin, corrected the plasma glucose concentrations and restored the hormonal profile towards normal within 36 to 48 hours. The association of hyperglycaemia with infantile gastroenteritis and dehydration is well recog-nised. ' 2 There is, however, little or no information on its prevalence or pathogenesis. In this study we have assessed the prevalence of hyperglycaemia in black South African children admitted to hospital with gastroenteritis and have investigated th