Therapeutic impact of routine electrolyte testing in childhood diarrhoea.
OBJECTIVE
To report on the management of plasma sodium and potassium disturbances, identified by routine electrolyte testing in children.


METHODS
A prospective cohort study of patients admitted to the Diarrhoea Rehydration Unit of Red Cross Children's Hospital, Cape Town, South Africa. The patients were 530 children aged 6 weeks to 2 years with a primary diagnosis of diarrhoea.


RESULTS
For plasma sodium levels <125 mmol/L (3.4%, 95% CI 2.0-0 5.3), 48 patients (95% CI 30-116) needed testing for one to receive a change of management. For plasma potassium levels <3 mmol/L (31.6%, 95% CI 27.6-35.6), fewer patients (6, 95% CI 5-7) needed testing for one to receive a change of management.


CONCLUSIONS
Electrolyte abnormalities were detected and clinical management changed, but large numbers of patients needed to be tested for each change of management.
School of Child & Adolescent Health, University of Cape Town, Burden of Disease Research Unit, Medical Research Council, Tygerberg 7505, South Africa. victoria.pillayvanwyk@mrc.ac.za
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D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003955:Diagnostic Tests, Routine / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis; D004573:Electrolytes / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D005440:Fluid Therapy; D006776:Hospitals, Pediatric; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D011188:Potassium / Q000097:blood; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012964:Sodium / Q000097:blood; D013019:South Africa; D014883:Water-Electrolyte Imbalance / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy*
D004573:Electrolytes; D012964:Sodium; D011188:Potassium