Very young children with uncomplicated falciparum malaria have higher risk of hypoglycaemia: a study from Suriname.
OBJECTIVE
To measure glucose kinetics and the influence of age, nutritional status and fasting duration in children with uncomplicated falciparum malaria (UFM) under the age of 5 years.


METHODS
Plasma glucose concentration, endogenous glucose production (EGP) and gluconeogenesis (GNG) were measured using [6,6-(2)H(2)]glucose and (2)H(2)O in 17 very young (<3 years) and 7 older (3-5 years) Surinamese children with UFM admitted to the Distrikt Hospital Stoelmanseiland and Diakonessen Hospital Paramaribo over 17 months.


RESULTS
Plasma glucose concentration was lower in the group of very young children than in the older children (P = 0.028). There were no differences in EGP and GNG between the groups. Overall GNG contributed 56% (median, range 17-87%) to EGP, with no differences between the groups (P = 0.240). Glucose clearance was lower in the older children (P = 0.026). Glucose concentration did not differ between children with weight for length/height less than -1.3 SD and children with weight for length/height greater than -1.3 SD (P = 0.266). Plasma glucose concentration was not predicted by fasting duration (P = 0.762).


CONCLUSIONS
Our data suggest a higher risk of hypoglycaemia in very young children with uncomplicated malaria as plasma glucose concentration was lower in this study group. Since this could not be attributed to an impaired EGP, and because glucose clearance was lower in the older children, we presume that older children were better capable of reducing glucose utilization during fasting. Studies on glucose kinetics are feasible in very young children with malaria and give more insight in the pathophysiology of hypoglycaemia.
Zijlmans
Wilco C W R
WC
Department of Paediatrics, Diakonessen Hospital, Paramaribo, Suriname. zijlmans.dams@sr.net
van Kempen
Anne A M W
AA
Ackermans
Mariëtte T
MT
de Metz
Jesse
J
Kager
Piet A
PA
Sauerwein
Hans P
HP
D000367:Age Factors; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000032:analysis / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005215:Fasting / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D005943:Gluconeogenesis; D006801:Humans; D007003:Hypoglycemia / Q000097:blood*; D007223:Infant; D016778:Malaria, Falciparum / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D009752:Nutritional Status; D012307:Risk Factors; D013532:Suriname
D001786:Blood Glucose