A clinical profile of shock in children in Punjab, India.

This prospective study was conducted to determine the frequency, etiology, type and outcome of shock in hospitalized children in the age group of 1 month to 15 years. There were 98 cases of shock, constituting 4.3% out of total admissions. Mean age was 2.8 +/-3.4 years. Maximum number of patients (39) was seen in infancy. Hypovolemic shock due to acute diarrheal disease was the commonest type (45.9%) followed by septic, cardiogenic and distributive shock. Compensated stage was common in hypovolemic shock (88.9%) whereas majority of patients with septic shock (73.5%) presented in decompensated stage. Overall survival was 73.6%. The survival rate was best in hypovolemic shock (97.7%;) followed by septic(53.3%) and cardiogenic shock(43.7%). Inotropes and ventilatory support were required in 46% and 23% patients, respectively. Diagnosis and management of shock in compensated stage carried better prognosis than in uncompensated shock irrespective of the age of the patient.