ELECTROLYTE ABNORMALITIES IN CHILDREN WITH ACUTE DIARRHEA

ABSTRACT

Abstract Objective To evaluate electrolyte disturbances in children presenting with acute diarrhea at a tertiary care center, and identify any possible risk factors.Methods This was a retrospective study. Children who were admitted to the pediatric ward due to acute diarrhea were enrolled into this study. The inclusion criteria consisted of 1 month-5 year old children with a history of acute diarrhea (more than 3 loose stools per day or mucus bloody stool) that had a duration of less than 14 days. The patients were assessed clinically by degrees of dehydration. Serum electrolytes were evaluated in all cases.Results Fifty-three patients were included. The mean age was 19.4 months. One half of the patients developed moderate dehydration, whereas, 28.3% and 22.6% had mild and severe dehydra-tion, respectively. Metabolic acidosis, noted in 54.7%, was the most common electrolyte abnormality. Isonatremic dehydration comprised 73.6% of the cases, whereas, 17% and 9.4% presented with hyponatremic and hypernatremic dehydration, respectively. The younger children were predisposed to develop electrolyte abnormalities, particularly metabolic acidosis and hypernatremia. (p