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Diarrhea can cause electrolyte imbalances, kidney impairment, dehydration, and defective immune system responses. When oral drugs are administered, the efficiency of the drug is to produce a therapeutic effect and the lack of this effect may be due to the medication travelling too quickly through the digestive system, limiting the time that it ...
Electrolyte imbalance, or water-electrolyte imbalance, is an abnormality in the concentration of electrolytes in the body. Electrolytes play a vital role in maintaining homeostasis in the body. They help to regulate heart and neurological function, fluid balance , oxygen delivery , acid–base balance and much more.
Hyponatremia is the most common type of electrolyte imbalance, and is often found in older adults. [11] [12] It occurs in about 20% of those admitted to hospital and 10% of people during or after an endurance sporting event. [3] [5] Among those in hospital, hyponatremia is associated with an increased risk of death. [5]
Fluid balance is important to health. Profuse sweating can increase the need to replace electrolytes (salts). Water intoxication (the consumption of too much water too quickly) causes hyponatremia, which can cause death in minutes or hours. [8] Water makes up about 60% of the body weight in men and 55% of weight in women. [9]
Dehydration can occur as a result of diarrhea, vomiting, water scarcity, physical activity, and alcohol consumption. Management of dehydration (or rehydration) seeks to reverse dehydration by replenishing the lost water and electrolytes. Water and electrolytes can be given through a number of routes, including oral, intravenous, and rectal.
A low stool osmotic gap suggests secretory diarrhea, wherein the digestive tract is hyperpermeable and losing electrolytes, while a high gap suggests osmotic diarrhea, wherein the digestive tract is unable to absorb solutes from the chyme, either because the digestive tract is hypopermeable (e.g. due to inflammation), or non-absorbable ...
Intracellular movement of electrolytes occurs along with a fall in the serum electrolytes, including phosphate and magnesium. Levels of serum glucose may rise, and B 1 vitamin ( thiamine ) may fall. Abnormal heart rhythms are the most common cause of death from refeeding syndrome, with other significant risks including confusion, coma and ...
A more common cause is excessive loss of potassium, often associated with heavy fluid losses that flush potassium out of the body. Typically, this is a consequence of diarrhea, excessive perspiration, losses associated with crush injury, or surgical procedures. Vomiting can also cause hypokalemia, although not much potassium is lost from the ...