Background: Objective: To study the incidence and predictors of EA in pediatric patients who received chloral hydrate for premedication.Materials and methods:  Conclusion: The incidence of EA in pediatric patients who received chloral hydrate was 34.3%. Previous history of surgery, difficulty in separating the patient from the parent and timing to recovery were the predictors of EA.A prospective observational study was conducted on 137 patients aged between 2-9 years who received chloral hydrate for premedication. Demographic data and the child’s behavior while separated from their parents were evaluated. After emerging from anesthesia, the child’s behaviors were observed by attending nurses. Results: Forty-seven patients exhibited EA (34.3%). Multivariate analysis showed that children who had a previous history of surgery (adjusted OR=0.43, 95% CI=0.18, 1) tended to have less incidence of EA. Children who were in the slightly anxious tearful subgroup (adjusted OR=0.22, 95% CI=0.07, 0.74) tended to have a lower incidence of EA than the calm cooperative subgroup. Children who woke up 6-10 minutes after the anesthesia was stopped (adjusted OR=3.05, 95% CI=1.25, 7.43) tended to have a higher incidence of EA than children who woke up 0-5 minutes after anesthesia was stopped. Emergence agitation (EA) is a common self limiting problem after recovery from general anesthesia (GA). Patients with EA will be inconsolable, irritable, uncooperative and may thrash or cry. In some cases EA symptoms can be severe leading to physical harm in children.