THIRSTING AND HYPERNATREMIC DEHYDRATION —A FORM OF CHILD ABUSE

Abstract
Three cases of hypernatremic dehydration following periodic water deprivation by psychotic mothers are presented as examples of child abuse. This represents a previously unreported form of child abuse and a previously unrecognized cause of hypernatremia in children in the range from 2 to 8 years of age. From the acute changes in body weight and sodium concentration in serum in the period of hydration, it was deduced that the dehydration sustained by these children was not associated with NaCl deficits.

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