Clinical profile and electrolyte abnormalities in hospitalized under-five children with acute gastroenteritis in a tertiary health facility

Background: Electrolyte abnormalities constitute the leading causes of morbidity and mortality in younger children with acute gastroenteritis. The aim of the study was to determine the clinical profile and pattern of electrolyte abnormalities in under-five children hospitalized for acute gastroenteritis from November 1, 2014, to January 31, 2015. Methodology: This was a cross-sectional descriptive study among hospitalized under-five children with acute diarrhea who were consecutively recruited from November 1, 2014, to January 31, 2015. Relevant clinical data were obtained, while the physical examination was done on all subjects. Serum electrolytes values were determined using the ion-selective electrode system and compared with standard reference ranges. The data were analyzed using SPSS version 21.0 with the level of statistical significance set at P < 0.05. Results: A total of 108 under-five children were studied. The majority (101; 93.5%) were