Sodium and water content of feedings for use in infants with diarrhea.
The sodium and water intakes of a group of infants treated for diarrhea and dehydration in 1972-73, when hypernatremia was common, and a group of infants treated for diarrhea and dehydration in 1978-79, when hypernatremia was rare, were compared. Infants from both study periods whose intake was poor and who received feedings containing sodium in concentrations greater than 17 mEq/liter were more likely to develop elevated serum sodium concentrations. In a group of infants recovering from diarrhea, the effect upon the serum concentration of sodium of varying water and sodium intake was studied. Those treated with small amounts of a solution containing 30 mEq sodium per liter regularly demonstrated an elevation of serum sodium, whereas those treated with large amounts of the same solution regularly demonstrated a depression. It is concluded that infants with diarrhea should receive feedings containing sodium in concentrations less than 17 mEq/liter unless a high fluid intake can be assured.
D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003681:Dehydration / Q000178:diet therapy; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000178:diet therapy*; D003968:Diarrhea, Infantile / Q000178:diet therapy*; D004326:Drinking; D004573:Electrolytes / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D006955:Hypernatremia / Q000517:prevention & control; D007223:Infant; D007225:Infant Food / Q000032:analysis; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008892:Milk / Q000032:analysis; D012964:Sodium / Q000032:analysis*; D014867:Water / Q000032:analysis*
D004573:Electrolytes; D014867:Water; D012964:Sodium