High Anion Gap Metabolic Acidosis among Children with Nodding Syndrome (NS) in Northern Uganda: Case Series
David Lagoro Kitara *
Gulu University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of surgery, P.O. Box 166, Gulu, Uganda.
Amos Deogratious Mwaka
Makerere University, College of health sciences, Department of Internal Medicine, P.O. Box 7072, Kampala, Uganda.
Edward Kigonya
Ministry of Health, Mulago National Referral Hospital, Kampala, Uganda, P.O. Box 7051, Kampala, Uganda.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Aims: To conduct a hormonal and biochemical studies on 10 patients with diagnosis of probable Nodding Syndrome (NS).
Study Design: A cross-sectional study
Place and Duration of Study: Atanga Health Center III in Pader District in Northern Uganda in September 2012.
Methodology: We recruited consecutively 10 children with probable Nodding Syndrome who had been admitted for symptomatic management of seizures, injuries resulting from falls and nutritional rehabilitation. History, physical examinations, biophysical measurements (anthropometry) and blood investigations including serum electrolytes, liver function tests, thyroid hormones and vitamin D assays. Ethical approval was obtained from Gulu University Institutional Review Committee.
Results: All children had severely low serum calcium and bicarbonate levels and a high Anion Gap. Thyroid hormones and vitamin D assays were largely normal.
Conclusion: Children with Nodding Syndrome undergoing treatment for seizure control and nutritional rehabilitation have high Anion Gap metabolic acidosis.
Keywords: Nodding Syndrome, metabolic acidosis, high Anion Gap, hormones, Pader, Northern Uganda.