REVIEW   

Minerva Pediatrics 2022 February;74(1):61-9

DOI: 10.23736/S2724-5276.21.05856-4

Copyright © 2021 EDIZIONI MINERVA MEDICA

language: English

Severe hyponatremia in children: a review of the literature through instructive cases

Michele MAZZOLAI ¹ ✉, Andrea APICELLA ², Pierluigi MARZUILLO ³, Ingrid RABACH ⁴, Andrea TADDIO ^{1, 4}, Egidio BARBI ^{1, 4}, Giorgio COZZI ¹

¹ Department of Medicine, Surgery, and Health Sciences, University of Trieste, Trieste, Italy; ² AORN Santobono-Pausillipon, Naples, Italy; ³ Department of Woman, Child and of General and Specialized Surgery, Luigi Vanvitelli University of Campania, Naples, Italy; ⁴ Institute for Maternal and Child Health, IRCCS Burlo Garofolo, Trieste, Italy

Hyponatremia is the most common electrolyte disorder in the pediatric population. Symptoms are related to the time in which hyponatremia has developed. The acute presentation could be dramatic, with neurological symptoms like headache, seizure, impaired mental status and even coma. It is essential for the physician to be aware of the possible causes of hyponatremia in the child in order to start a prompt treatment.

KEY WORDS: Hyponatremia; Child; Water intoxication; Adrenal insufficiency