Dr K K Aggarwal

President Heart Care Foundation of India

WHO definitions hypoglycaemia in children with signs of illness as blood sugar less than 45 mg / dl and in a child with severe malnutrition less than 54 mg. If glucometer is not available in every child with encephalopathy like picture treat as hypoglycaemia and rapidly lower the temperature if high.

The ideal short-term treatment is intravenous IV bolus of 10% dextrose (2.5 ml/Kg).

But this facility may not be available in rural areas

1. Give sub lingual sugar, one teaspoon, moistened with a few drops of water under the tongue every 20 min in children < 15 years of age.
2. Rough formula is 100 mg per kg weight
3. Make sure the child does not clinch teeth or swallow th sugar