In a child who has diarrhea and vomiting with inadequate water intake, which of the following is seen:: (A) Intracellular dehydration with hypernatremia, (B) Intracellular dehydration with hyponatremia, (C) Extracellular dehydration with hyponatremia, (D) Extracellular dehydration with hypernatremia
Answer is A. Diarrhea- water losses exceeds sodium losses, potentially leading to hypernatremia Most children with gastroenteritis do not have hypernatremia- drink enough fluid to compensate for stool water losses. But in this case, baby has inadequate water and fluid intake, he is at risk of developing hypernatremic dehydration.