title: Current views on the diagnosis and management of hypokalaemia in children.
abstract: Hypokalaemia is a common electrolyte disorder in children, caused by decreased potassium intake, increased gastrointestinal and urinary losses or transcellular shift. Patients with severe hypokalaemia may suffer from symptoms such as life-threatening cardiac arrhythmias. The aim of our study was to review the aetiology of hypokalaemia, suggest a diagnostic algorithm and discuss the management of patients with various aetiologies of hypokalaemia.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Understanding the pathophysiology of hypokalaemic states, along with a detailed medical history, physical examination and specific laboratory tests are required for proper diagnosis and appropriate treatment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatrics, 2nd Faculty of Medicine, Motol University Hospital, Charles University in Prague, Praha, Czech Republic.
authors.forename: Jakub
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zieg
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatrics, 2nd Faculty of Medicine, Motol University Hospital, Charles University in Prague, Praha, Czech Republic.
authors.forename: Lucie
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Gonsorcikova
authors.affiliation: Paediatrics Department B, Faculty of Health Sciences, Schneider Children's Medical Center of Israel, Ben-Gurion University, Beer Sheva, Israel.
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Landau
mesh_terms: D000303:Adrenal Cortex Diseases / Q000150:complications; D002648:Child; D019468:Disease Management; D030342:Genetic Diseases, Inborn / Q000150:complications; D006801:Humans; D007008:Hypokalemia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy
keywords: Bartter syndrome; Children; Gitelman syndrome; Hypokalaemia; Steroidogenesis disorders