This guideline covers the clinical and biochemical diagnosis of
hypernatraemia in children.
It is focussed on the diagnosis of poisoning by agents including
salt, the differential diagnoses and the possible causes of
poisoning. It is intended for paediatricians and other medical
practitioners who may be involved in the investigation and
management of children presenting to hospital with hypernatraemia
(e.g. Emergency Medicine consultants). It is also
intended to be relevant to tertiary specialists and others
providing information, e.g. chemical pathologists.
The guideline does not cover the investigation of preterm
neonates developing hypernatraemia in hospital. However, the
guideline should be a useful source of reference for the published
reports of accidental salt poisoning in hospital. The scope also
excludes the diagnostic features of pathological findings. The
guideline does not cover the child protection procedures when
non-accidental injury is suspected. The guideline does not include
the specific investigations required to diagnose all the other
conditions that may present with hypernatraemia. The guideline does
not cover the medical management of hypernatraemia.
Download the full guideline and executive
summary:
Hypernatraemia - Full
Guideline (PDF 898
KB)
Hypernatraemia - Executive
Summary (PDF 261 KB)
Hypernatraemia - Summary
(PDF 619 KB)
To receive a hard copy of the full guideline or executive
summary, please
email the Clinical
Standards team.
