Acid base and electrolyte disturbance in diarrhoea

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Gastroenterology
• Clinical Biochemistry
• Critical Care Medicine

Background:

• Diarrhea and dehydration are leading causes of pediatric hospitalizations globally.
• Electrolyte and acid-base disturbances are common complications of severe diarrhea in children.
• These imbalances can lead to significant morbidity and mortality if not promptly addressed.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the frequency of electrolyte imbalances in children presenting with diarrhea and dehydration.
• To investigate the association between specific electrolyte abnormalities and mortality in this pediatric population.
• To analyze the prevalence of acid-base disturbances in conjunction with electrolyte imbalances.

Main Methods:

• A retrospective, observational hospital-based study involving 57 children admitted with diarrhea and dehydration.
• Evaluation of electrolyte and acid-base status at the time of presentation.
• Statistical analysis using chi-square and student t-tests to identify significant associations.

Main Results:

• Electrolyte disturbances were present in 80% of patients, with hyponatremia (56%) and hypokalemia (46%) being the most common.
• Acid-base disturbances were observed in all patients (100%) where estimations were performed, predominantly metabolic acidosis (94%).
• Mortality was 8.7% (5 patients), with all deceased patients exhibiting electrolyte abnormalities; hyponatremia and hypokalemia were significantly associated with increased mortality.

Conclusions:

• Hyponatremia, hypokalemia, and metabolic acidosis are frequent and critical electrolyte and acid-base abnormalities in children with diarrhea and dehydration.
• These imbalances are strongly linked to increased mortality rates in affected children.
• The findings underscore the importance of monitoring and managing electrolyte status in pediatric diarrhea cases.