Hypernatraemia in diarrhoeal infants in Lagos.

Records of 48 patients with acute gastro-enteritis who had a serum sodium concentration of 148 mEq/l. or more have been reviewed. All except 3 were under 1 year of age and 62% were under 6 months.

Intraperitoneal fluid infusion in children with gastroenteritis.

In a study of 91 babies with dehydration as a result of gastroenteritis the intraperitoneal route was found to be safe and effective in those with mild or moderate dehydration, but not in those who were severely dehydrated. The fluids found to be most effective in the intraperitoneal technique were normal saline with 28 mEq of potassium chloride per litre, or for hypertonically dehydrated babies half-strength Darrow's solution. This technique can be carried out by a nurse working single-handed if the baby is premedicated with promazine.