Abstract

PIP: A study was undertaken at James Whitcomb Riley Hospital in Indiana to ascertain whether the increased incidence of hypernatremic dehydration, i.e., hypertonic dehydration, which has been observed ober the past several years is associated with factors in the therapy administered prior to hospital admission. 721 children admitted with diarrhea between January 1954 and February 1958 were studied; of these, 68 had hypernatremia. The incidence increased from 4% of admissions in 1954 to 21% in 1958. Hypernatremia was defined as a serum sodium concentration above 150 mEq. per liter. The nonhypernatremic cases served as controls. The hypernatremic group suffered from a significantly higher incidence of prior brain damage. In addition, parenteral fluids had been administered prior to admission to a significantly higher percentage of the hypernatremic children than to the other group. The use of glucose, electrolyte, and water solutions prepared at home could not be associated with hypernatremia but the use of a commercial oral electrolyte solution, Lytren, was so associated. The Lytren had no ill effects in a controlled therapy study of diarrheal patients conducted at the hospital. It is believed that the Lytren was not prepared and/or administered correctly at home, which caused the development of hypernatremic diarrhea.