Electrolyte Imbalance in Diarrhea

Children and elderly people are more susceptible to dehydration and electrolyte imbalance.

Diarrhea has a number of causes and results in loose and watery stools. Acute diarrhea usually lasts one or two days and goes away without medication. Severe acute or chronic (prolonged) diarrhea can result in life-threatening dehydration and electrolyte balance and should be treated with electrolytes immediately.

Background

Lactose intolerance can cause diarrhea.

Electrolytes are dissolved salts in bodily fluids that are necessary at normal concentrations or balance for normal bodily functions. Electrolytes can become imbalanced by abnormal fluid loss, as occurs in diarrhea. Diarrhea can be caused by any number of factors. These include food intolerances and food allergies, bacterial, viral or parasitic infections, reactions to medicines and intestinal diseases such as colitis, celiac disease, irritable bowel syndrome and Crohn's disease. People who are lactose-intolerant can get diarrhea from drinking milk.

Statistics

Call your doctor if your temperature is over 102 degrees F.

In the U.S., adults experience diarrhea about four times a year on average. Children will typically have seven to 15 episodes of diarrhea by the age of five. Call your doctor if diarrhea lasts for more than three days, is accompanied with several rectal or abdominal pain, blood or black stools, a fever of more than 100.4 degrees F in children, or signs of dehydration. Medicines designed to stop diarrhea in adults should not be given to children unless specified by a doctor.

Dehydration and Electrolyte Imbalance

Pure water does not replace electrolytes.

The fluid lost in diarrhea takes electrolytes and water out of the body; these have to be replaced. Major electrolytes lost in diarrhea include sodium and potassium. These are both necessary for proper function of muscle and nerve cells. Blood can also become acidic (acidosis) or, in rare instances, alkaline (alkalosis). These conditions are monitored by blood tests that check for sodium, potassium and bicarbonate concentrations.

Signs of Dehydration

Popsicles can help restore electrolytes.

Your child may be dehydrated if he has a dry mouth and tongue and produces no tears when crying. Skin will not flatten quickly when gently pinched. If your baby has not wet his diaper for more than three hours or has a high fever, he may be dehydrated. Sunken cheeks, eyes or abdomen are also signs of dehydration. Dehydration in infants and children must be treated immediately to avoid a life-threatening situation. General signs are listlessness, thirst, less-frequent urination or dark-colored urine and fatigue.

Treating Electrolyte Imbalance

Electrolyte beverages are specifically designed for infants and children.

Symptoms of electrolyte imbalance often go undetected in infants and children. The presence of diarrhea indicates that the child should be offered anything you can get her to drink, with preference given to balanced electrolyte solutions, soups and broths. Sports drinks generally have more sugar than is recommended for children, but if there is nothing else available, they can be diluted with water and given to children. Electrolyte balance can be restored by the kidneys when ample water and electrolytes are given.

References

• NIH: Diarrhea
• MedlinePlus: Diarrhea
• Pediatriconcall: Electrolyte Disturbances in Diarrhea