Five cases of moderately severe hypernatraemic dehydration were identified
within a 5-month period between two regional hospitals in Hong Kong. Unlike
previous reported cases, these exclusively breast-fed infants presented wi
th the unusual triad of fever, absence of overt signs of dehydration and wi
thin the first week of life. Three of the cases also had high serum bilirub
in concentrations at presentation. The fever subsided quickly and the serum
bilirubin concentration fell rapidly within a few hours of rehydration. Al
l infants made an uneventful recovery without permanent neurological sequel
ae. Fever, presumably secondary to dehydration, is an useful early warning
sign. These cases emphasize the importance of early and regular measurement
of bodyweight in exclusively breast-fed infants so that prompt identificat
ion of affected cases may prevent potentially detrimental complications.