Hypernatremic dehydration in children leads to irritability, restlessness, weakness, lethargy and fever. What is the most devastating consequence of hypernatremia in children?
High-Yield Explanation
Brain hemorrhage -most devastating consequence of acute & severe hypernatremia. Due to hypernatremia, extracellular osmolality increases | Osmotic shift of water from neurons- leading to shrinkage of brain | Tearing of meningeal vessels - Intracranial hemorrhage Seizures- sequelae to intracranial hemorrhage