Hypernatremia
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Hypernatremia is a medical condition in which there is excess sodium, urea, and other electrolytes in the body relative to the amount of water (electrolyte disturbance). For more information, see dehydration. Compare to hyponatremia, the opposite condition, in which an excess of water relative to the amount of electrolytes exists in the body.
Etiology in infants
- i. Diarrhea and vomiting
- ii. Dehydration
- iii. Phototherapy
- iv. NEC
- v. Mismanaged IV fluids
- vi. Congenital hyperaldosteronism, diabetes insipidus
Consequences in infants
- i. Intracranial hemorrhage
- ii. Dural sinus thrombosis
- iii. Coma
- iv. Brain edema
- v. Brain atrophy
Etiology in adults
- i. Inadequate intake of water--typically in elderly or otherwise disabled patients who are unable to take in water as their thirst dictates
- ii. Inappropriate excretion of water--often in the urine, which can be due to medications like diuretics or lithium or can be due to a medical condition called diabetes insipidus
- iii. Intake of a hypertonic fluid (a fluid with a higher concentration of solutes than the remainder of the body). This is relatively uncommon, though can occur after a vigorous resuscitation where a patient receives a large volume of a concentrated sodium bicarbonate solution.
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