[Hypoglycemia in children]

Abstract

In infants and children, the delicate equilibrium between glucose production and glucose utilization can easily be disrupted. This leads to hypoglycemia with the risk of brain damage. The symptoms of hypoglycemia are non specific, particularly in the infant and the young child. The definition, the pathophysiology and the different etiologies of hypoglycemia are discussed. An approach of the causes of the hypoglycemia is proposed, which depends crucially on concomitant determinations of some hormones such as insulin, cortisol and growth hormone, and metabolic factors such as ketotic bodies, at the time of hypoglycemia. Therapeutic aspects will also be briefly reviewed.