A prospective study of clinical profile of hypokalemic periodic paralysis in paediatric patients

Abstract

Background: Hypokalemic periodic paralysis is not a frequent but a cause of weakness in paediatric age group patient and it is revised after treatment. If it is not diagnosed properly it could be life threatening but if it is treated properly recovery is good. It can be primary and secondary type and it can be localized or generalized. Present study has been designed with an aim to study the clinical profile, demography, and response to treatment of hypokalemic periodic paralysis in our region.Methods: This a prospective clinical study conducted in the Department of Paediatrics and Emergency Medicine Konaseema Institute of Medical Science, Amalapuram, from November 2013 to March 2017. During this period around 42 patients with weakness and decrease serum potassium level was included in this study as per exclusion and inclusion criteria.Results: Out of 42 patients, 6 patients were between 1 to 6 years of age, 10 patients were between 6 to 12 years of age and 26 patients were 12 to 18 years of age. Sex distribution has male predominance that is 26/16. 26 patients presented with quadriperesis that is (61.9%) and 16 (38.10%) presented with paraparesis or plegia, eleven patients have serum potassium level below 2 meq/L, 26 patients having between 2-3 meq/L, 3 patients having serum potassium 3-4 meq/L and two patients having serum potassium above 4 meq/L.Conclusions: Male predominance and frequency of attack was more in second decade of life. Quadriparesis was the commonest mode of presentation. Most of the patient have had serum potassium level between 2 to 3 meq/L. ECG abnormalities has been observed in 85% of the patients most of these patients were treated with oral potassium chloride alone. Outcome was good in all patients.