HYPERNATREMIC DIARRHEAL DEHYDRATION RISK FACTORS AND EEG CHANGES

Abstract

This study was conducted on fou11y pediatric patients (age below 2 years) suffering from hypernatremic diarrheal dehydration. They were subjected to thorough clinical evaluation, with special emphasis on the history of illness as regards the frequency of diarrhea and vomiting, type of feeding and number of packets of ORS taken, and full clinical examination with special attention to signs of dehydration, signs of CNS involvement and nutritional status.

Medical records were reviewed to obtain laboratory data including serum levels of sodium, potassium, calcium, BUN, creatinine and arterial blood gases on admission. All studied patients were subjected to electro­ encephalogram (EEG).

From the statistical analysis of all obtained data we found that:

• Misuse of ORS either in large quantities, or improper Imxmg IS

associated with high frequency ofhypernatremia.

• Half of the studied patients showed abnormal EEG changes, and the level of serum sodium concentration on admission is statistically correlated with the EEG changes.

• Most of the patients were suffering from moderate to severe dehydration, and most of them showed abnormal EEG changes.

• It has been found that 62.5% of the studied patients had CNS manifestations, but no statistical correlation was found between the mean serum sodium concentration on admission and the presence of CNS manifestations.