Question

If a 2 year has fever, vomiting, and diarrhea what type of fluid and electrolyte losses is the child at risk for and what fluids are lost? What other clinical manifestations of fluid and electrolyte imbalances should be monitored?

Answer 1

It is found that children suffering from fever, vomiting and diarrhea looses lot of fluids and electrolytes, and they are at great risks of fluid losses.

In children with such cases of gastroenteritis but without clinical dehydration, IVT should be able to replace fluid lost and manage continuing losses of fluids.

There are different types of intravenous fluids used to treat dehydration. Normal saline contains sodium and chlorine, so it replaces lost fluid and prevents or corrects some types of electrolyte imbalances. A solution of dextrose and water may also be used to treat dehydration.

Some amounts of water and electrolytes are lost when there is vomiting, and water losses are also increased by fever. These losses cause dehydration due to the loss of water and sodium chloride, metabolic acidosis due to the loss of bicarbonate, and potassium depletion.

Here the best remedy is oral rehydration therapy (ORT). ORT is the restitution of water and electrolyte deficits in dehydrated children, using an oral rehydration salt (ORS) solution. ORS solution is monitored as special fluid formulations containing as essential ingredients. It is recommended, as organic solute and sodium chloride. Such solutes are active intestinal co-transport and thereby enhance salt and water absorption. Typically, ORS solution contains glucose and sodium chloride in specified concentrations. So the use of ORT in the fluid management for children with gastroenteritis is very usefull treatment.