Related Experiment Videos
[Severe hyponatremia as diagnostic symptom of cystic fibrosis]
1St. Josefskrankenhaus, Abt. Kinderheilkunde und Jugendmedizin St. Hedwig, Freiburg.
Insights
Two infants with severe salt depletion presented with gastro-enteritis and dehydration. Pseudo Bartter-Syndrome was suspected due to increased sweat salt and low stool chymotrypsin, mimicking cystic fibrosis.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Gastroenterology
- Endocrinology
Background:
- Severe salt depletion in infants can present with non-specific symptoms like fever and gastro-enteritis.
- Differential diagnosis is crucial, especially for conditions mimicking other common infant illnesses.
Observation:
- Two infants (5 and 6 months) presented with severe dehydration, weight loss, and gastro-enteritis.
- Clinical presentation included failure to thrive and protracted gastro-enteritis, without neurological signs.
Findings:
- Diagnostic workup suggested Pseudo Bartter-Syndrome, a salt-losing condition.
- Elevated sweat salt concentration and decreased fecal chymotrypsin levels were observed in both infants.
Implications:
- This case highlights the importance of considering salt depletion syndromes in infants with severe gastro-intestinal issues.
- Early recognition and management of Pseudo Bartter-Syndrome are vital to prevent severe complications in infants.
Abstract:
Report on two babies, 5 and 6 months old with severe salt depletion were admitted to our hospital with fever and gastro-enteritis. One of them failed to thrive despite normal nutrition, the other one had a protracted gastro-enteritis. Both of them had a great loss of weight, a strong dehydration and were in reduced general condition but without any signs of coma or cerebral seizures. In the differential diagnosis cystic fibrosis with chronic loss of salt exacerbated during an infection, described as "Pseudo Bartter-Syndrome" was suspected. Both babies showed increased salt concentration in the sweat and decreased chymotrypsin in the stool.