Table 1.

Definitions for various terms used in the present study[5]

Terminology used	Definition
A. Systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS)	2 out of following 4 criteria to be met, 1 of which must be abnormal temperature or abnormal leukocyte count:
	1. Core temperature >38.5°C or <36°C (rectal, bladder, oral or central catheter),
	2. Tachycardia: Mean heart rate >2 SD above normal for age in absence of external stimuli, chronic drugs or painful stimuli; OR; Unexplained persistent elevation of heart rate over 0.5-4 hour; OR In children <1 year old, persistent bradycardia over 0.5 hour (mean heart rate <10th percentile for age in absence of vagal stimuli, beta-blockers or congenital heart disease),
	3. Respiratory rate >2 SD above normal for age or acute need for mechanical ventilation not related to neuromuscular disease or general anesthesia, and
	4. Leukocyte count elevated or depressed for age (not secondary to chemotherapy) or>10% immature neutrophils.
B. Sepsis	SIRS plus a proven or suspected infection.
C. Severe sepsis	Sepsis plus one of the following: Cardiovascular organ dysfunction OR acute respiratory distress syndrome OR two or more other organ dysfunctions (renal, neurologic, hematologic, or hepatic).
	1. Cardiovascular organ dysfunction defined as:
	Despite >40 ml/kg of isotonic intravenous fluid in 1 hour - Hypotension ≤5th percentile for age or systolic blood pressure <2 SD below normal for age; OR Need for vasoactive drug to maintain blood pressure;
	OR
	2 of the following 5:
	- Unexplained metabolic acidosis: Base deficit>5 meq/L
	- Increased arterial lactate: >2 times upper limit of normal
	- Oliguria: Urine output <0.5 ml/kg/hour
	- Prolonged capillary refill: >5 sec
	- Core to peripheral room temperature gap >3°C.
	2. Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) was defined by - the presence of a PaO2/FiO2 ratio ≤300 OR PaCO2 65 torr or 20 mm Hg over baseline PaCO2 OR Need for non-elective invasive or noninvasive mechanical ventilation
	3. Organ dysfunctions (neurological, renal, hepatic or hematologic) was defined as -
	(i) Neurological: GCS score of <or=11 or acute change in mental status with Glasgow Coma Score (GCS) of >or=3 points from abnormal baseline.
	(ii) Renal: Serum creatinine of >2 times upper limit of normal for age or 2 fold increase in baseline creatinine.
	(iii) Hepatic: Total bilirubin >or=4 mg/dl or alanine transaminase level twice the upper limit of normal for age.
	(iv) Hematological: Platelet count of less than 80,000 or a 50% decline in the platelet count from the highest value recorded over the last 3 days or INR >2.
D. Septic shock	Sepsis plus cardiovascular organ dysfunction (as defined above).