Diabetic ketoacidosis precipitated by atypical coronavirus disease in a newly diagnosed diabetic girl.

Department of Pediatrics, College of Medicine, Imam Abdulrahman bin Faisal University, Dammam, KSA.Department of Pediatrics, College of Medicine, Imam Abdulrahman bin Faisal University, Dammam, KSA.

Journal of Taibah University Medical Sciences. 2021;(4):628-631

Abstract

Viral infections have a well-known influence on the pathophysiology of type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM). There is scant data about the impact of COVID-19 T1DM and diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) on paediatric patients. This case presents a newly diagnosed paediatric patient with T1DM and DKA who was found to have SARS-CoV-2 without any respiratory symptoms. A 7-year-old girl presented with a history of polydipsia, polyuria, and weight loss. This presentation was complicated by a 2-day history of fatigue and vomiting. Investigations into the patient's condition confirmed T1DM with DKA. Following the infection control protocol, she underwent screening for SARS-CoV-2, which yielded a positive result. During her hospital stay, she did not develop fever or respiratory symptoms. The ketoacidosis was treated without any complications. We conclude that SARS-CoV-2 may trigger the onset of T1DM and may precipitate the occurrence of DKA in paediatric diabetic patients, even in the absence of respiratory symptoms.

Methodological quality

Publication Type : Case Reports

Metadata