[An analytic study of cases of childhood diabetes in a pediatric department in Tunis].

Insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus is common in Tunisia. Eighty-six pediatric cases managed at the diabetes clinic of a department of pediatrics in Tunis from 1979 through 1989 were studied. Relevant clinical and biological findings were abstracted from case-records. Admissions of patients with diabetes mellitus accounted for approximately 0.44% of admissions to the pediatric ward during the study period. Mean age of patients was 7 years. Sex ratio was 0.89. Polyuria with polydipsia and ketoacidosis were the two most common presenting manifestations. Mean blood glucose level at diagnosis was 22.44 mmol/l. Rate of consanguinity was 48%. HLA typing studies demonstrated a high prevalence of DR3 and DR4 alleles and especially of simultaneous expression of both these alleles. Several factors are incriminated in the development of childhood insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus.