[Diabetic ketoacidosis in children and adolescents. Clinical and therapeutical considerations in 25 severe cases].

Twenty-five serious cases of diabetic ketoacidosis, representing 23 patients, with ages ranging from 4 to 15 years are reported. School agers and adolescents were the groups most affected without existing significant predilection for sex. In 40% there was no success in finding the precipitating cause of the crisis; 32% was attributed to infectious processes, specially of the respiratory ducts and the rest, due to negligence in the application of insulin. The clinical signs showed: vomiting, dehydration, Kussamaul's respiration, sopor, stupor and in 5 cases a state of coma. Determinations of glucose, were integrated in 88% within the range of 451 to 750 mg % and the rest in lower figures. The pH in most was reported below 7.10 and CO2 lower than 10 mEq/l. Electrolytes in blood were generally evaluated within normal limits. Potassium in 20% was reported high, but we consider this was due to dehydration and because of its influence we recommend an electrocardiographic evaluation. Our classification which attempts to correlate the clinic and the laboratory is reported and our therapeutic scheme is discussed as well as the possible causes in two patients who died.