The patient was followed till discharge/ in-hospital mortality. The functional outcome of the patients was assessed by the Pediatric Overall Performance Category (POPC)18 at the time of PICU discharge or 1 month following admission whichever was earlier. This scale ranges in value from 1 to 6 with a value of 1 indicating normal functioning and a value of 6 indicating brain death. Children were considered to have poor outcomes if they scored 3-6 on the POPC scale, consistent with moderate to severe disability to vegetative state, coma or brain death. The POPC score was obtained through direct questions about the child's ability to perform age-appropriate activities, use of rehabilitative services, and physical disabilities.