Hypernatremia and Hyponatremia: Current Understanding and Management

Dysnatremias can be a challenging diagnosis for pediatric emergency care providers because patients can present with vague symptoms but can quickly develop neurologic sequelae. It is important that emergency care physicians are knowledgeable about higher risk populations, clinical presentation, and possible etiologies to provide prompt treatment. This article will present 2 cases with sodium abnormalities and then review the epidemiology, pathophysiology, and current management practices for dysnatremias.

Keywords: Dysnatremias, hypernatremia, hyponatremia, cerebral edema, central pontine myelinosis, water deficit