Water requirements: physiology and pathology
Chauliac, M.
Children in the Tropics 158: 11-19
1985
ISSN/ISBN: 0379-2269 PMID: 12314105 Document Number: 418864
This chapter presents information on the distribution of body water, the water balance and water requirements, mechanisms involved in the movements of water at the intestinal level, and the pathology of infectious diarrhea. The total amount of water contained in the body varies from 75% at birth to 60-65% in adults. Diarrhea affects the mechanisms that regulate the movements of water, leading to additional water losses and to clincal signs of the resultant severe suffering of the viscera. Under physiologic conditions, the water balance is at an equilibrium. In the exchanges of fluids between the intestinal lumen and the enterocyte, the water follows the electrolytes and there is absorption of sodium. Diarrhea results from a dysfunctioning of the transferral of water and electrolytes at the intestinal level. The infectious agents may destroy the mucosa. Losses of water and electrolytes may be caused by an exudation from mucosal necrosis, specific inhibition of absorption, abnormal stimulation of secretion, or a mixture of all 3 phenomena. The result of thes dysfunctions is an increased amount of feces and a change in their consistency due to the increased amount of water and electrolytes contained in them. Depending on the micro-organism i.e., toxigenic type, invasive type, combined type, viruses), different mechanisms are involved in diarrhea.