Diabetic ketoacidosis in an Addis Abeba children's hospital.

A retrospective study was carried out to determine the precipitating factors and clinical profiles of diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) among 46 paediatric patients (mean age 9 yrs) with 52 episodes admitted to the Ethio-Swedish Children's Hospital (ESCH) from January 1, 1982 to December 30, 1988. Thirty (58%) episodes occurred in newly diagnosed diabetics and 22 (42%) episodes in known diabetics. The most common precipitating factors were infection (52%), omission of insulin (16%) and parasitic infection (12%). The mortality rate was 6%, with all fatal cases occurring in previously undiagnosed diabetics. Several of these episodes of DKA may have been prevented by prompt and effective treatment of infections and proper health education.