AbstractIntroduction: Diarrhea due to gastroenteritis is the most common cause of hypovolemic hyponatremia in children. Emesis causes hyponatremia if the patient takes in hypotonic fluid, either intravenously or enterally, despite the emesis. Most patients with emesis have either a normal sodium concentration or hypernatremia
Methodology: All children (3 months to 12 years) who were admitted to pediatric ward, who required intravenous maintenance fluid therapy for at least 12 hours, with serum Na in between 135 and 150 meq per litre were included in the study Results: 25% of hyponatremic patients were in respiratory diseases group, so this is group at risk of developing hospital acquired hyponatremia.
Conclusion: Duration of stay was increased (>5 days) in hyponatremic patients (p value 0.005), more so in hyponatremic group B patients (53% p value 0.001).
Keywords: Disease; Hyponatremia; Hospitalised Children.