[Water and electrolyte composition of the body in the newborn infant]

The hydro-electrolytic composition of a newborn organism is different from that of an adult and this must be attributed only to a deficiency in the function of kidney which is already anatomically and morfologically complete from birth. The kidney hypofunction, which is more evident in the premature baby, can negatively affect the whole hydro-electrolytic equilibrium of the newborn child. It is therefore necessary to know such problems in order to correct any alteration of the hydro-electrolytic equilibrium in such a delicate phase for the human organism as is the neonatal.