Atrial natriuretic Peptide in young and elderly children with mild gastroenteritis.

Objective: Atrial Natriuretic Peptide (ANP) has natriuretic and diuretic effects, synthesized and stored in the atrial cells, released in response to stretch of the atrial muscle during increase venous return. Acute gastroenteritis (AGE) causes dehydration. We intend to determine whether the decrease in venous return due to dehydration would lead to a decrease in ANP levels.