Therapeutic Impact of Routine Electrolyte Testing in Childhood Diarrhoea
Therapeutic Impact of Routine Electrolyte Testing in Childhood Diarrhoea
Pillay-Van Wyk, V.; Swingler, G.
The aim of this trial is to report on the management of plasma sodium and potassium disturbances, identified by routine electrolyte testing in children.
This was a prospective cohort study of patients admitted to the Diarrhoea Rehydration Unit of Red Cross Children's Hospital, Cape Town, South Africa. The patients were 530 children aged 6 weeks to 2 years with a primary diagnosis of diarrhoea.
The authors found for plasma sodium levels <125 mmol/L (3.4%, 95% CI 2.0-0 5.3), 48 patients (95% CI 30-116) needed testing for one to receive a change of management. For plasma potassium levels <3 mmol/L (31.6%, 95% CI 27.6-35.6), fewer patients (6, 95% CI 5-7) needed testing for one to receive a change of management.
From these findings the authors found the electrolyte abnormalities were detected and clinical management changed, but large numbers of patients needed to be tested for each change of management.
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