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A Novel Approach for the Administration of Medications and Fluids in Emergency Scenarios and Settings
Published on: November 9, 2016
[Severe hypernatremia due to sea water ingestion in a child]
G Hubert1, J-M Liet1, F Barrière1
1Service de réanimation pédiatrique, hôpital Mère-Enfant, CHU de Nantes, 7, quai Moncousu, 44093 Nantes cedex 1, France.
Abstract:
Drowning in sea water is an unusual cause of severe hypernatremia. We report the case of a 3.5-year-old boy who died 11h after drowning in sea water, with a serum sodium level of 178 mmoL/L. In this case, hypernatremia was aggravated by diarrhea and hyperglycemia with glycosuria. Usually, correction of acute hypernatremia must be quick and early, aiming at a reduction of serum sodium concentration of up to 1-2 mmoL per liter per hour.
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