Clinical Rounds

Abstract

Can one tell whether dehydration is hyper, hypo, or isotonic in a hospital ized child by history and physical alone? Should one always get a serum-sodium concentration on a child hospitalized with the diagnosis of dehydration? Is hypo volemia a major feature on admission to the hospital? How common are central nervous system manifestations in the ex perimental animal versus the clinical con dition of hyperelectrolytemia? Would it be appropriate to give dextrose and wa ter only, in rehydrating a patient with hypematremia? Does rapid dehydration have an adverse effect on these children? If convulsions occur, does this necessarily mean permanent brain damage?