Diagnosis of dehydration in newborn infants
Mitrofanova, G.P.; Balagin, V.M.
Voprosy Okhrany Materinstva i Detstva 25(6): 11-15
1980
ISSN/ISBN: 0042-8825 PMID: 7395135 Document Number: 165866
Children (124), aged 2 h-30 days, with diseases coursing with dehydration (gastroenterocolitis, sepsis, pneumonia, gastrointestinal obstruction, congenital hyperplasia of the adrenal cortex, etc.) were observed. The following signs were considered in evaluating dehydration intensity: behavior, appetite, body temperature, skin color, tissue turgor, the state of mucosa, changes in respiration and the cardiovascular system, urination and data of special studies (central venous pressure, Hb, hematocrit index, K, Na, acid-base balance). Clinical symptoms progressed depending on the intensity of dehydration. A definite weight deficiency corresponded to each dehydration degree. The decisive dehydration index was the rate of the body weight reduction in 24 h. The greatest significance of auxiliary investigations was attached to measurement of the central venous pressure. There was no principal difference between the blood plasma K and Na content in different degrees of dehydration, excluding congenital adrenal hyperplasia.