Table 2 Causes of hypernatremia in childhood.
Hypovolemic | Normovolemic | Hypervolemic |
|---|---|---|
Inadequate Intake | Â | Â |
   - Breast feeding hypernatremia | Hypodypsia (essential hypernatremia) | Inappropriate intravenous fluids (e.g.: hypertonic saline, NaHCO3) |
   - Poor access to water | Hyperventilation | Salt poisoning (accidental, deliberate) |
   - Altered thirst perception (uncosciousness, mental impairment) | Fever | Primary aldosteronism (and other conditions that cause low-renin hypertension) |
Intestinal salt loss (diarrheal dehydration) | Â | Â |
Renal water and salt loss | Â | Â |
   - Postobstructive polyuria |  |  |
   - Diuretics |  |  |
   - Diabetes insipidus |  |  |
   - Medullary renal damage |  |  |