Compulsive water drinking in infants and young children.
The management and follow-up of five patients with asymptomatic compulsive water drinking is described. Three out of the five patients were female and two were male. The age range was 6 to 20 months. All the patients presented with polyuria or polydipsia and urine osmolalities of 39 to 112 mOsm/L. The daily fluid intake ranged from 3.5 to 5 L, and the urine output was 11 to 14 mL/kg/hr. Significant improvement was noticed after a gradual weaning process. As fluid intake returned to normal, urine osmolalities reached values between 210 and 500 mOsm/L after 4 weeks, and between 630 and 800 mOsm/L after 8 weeks. No relapse was noted during the 6- to 24-month follow-up period. Pediatricians should be aware of this potentially dangerous--yet not uncommon--habit.
Horev
Z
Z
Pediatric Ambulatory Medical Center, Petah Tiqva, Israel.
Cohen
A H
AH
D004326:Drinking; D004327:Drinking Behavior; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D009994:Osmolar Concentration; D016487:Parenting; D011141:Polyuria / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy / Q000652:urine; D012017:Referral and Consultation; D013894:Thirst; D014556:Urine; D014886:Weaning