Infant hypernatremia: A case report

A 7-month-old infant presented to the emergency department with diarrhea, v omiting, and decreased activity. The infant was febrile, tachycardic, tachy pneic, lethargic, and had a prolonged capillary refill. Initial serum sodiu m was 197 mmol/L, Ultimately, the infant was diagnosed with central diabete s insipidus complicated by severe dehydration secondary to rotavirus infect ion. A brief review of infant hypernatremia and its evaluation and treatmen t in the emergency department follows, (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Inc.