Prevalence and Clinical Correlates of Electrolyte Disturbances in Children Hospitalized with Acute Gastroenteritis

Background: Acute gastroenteritis (AGE) remains a leading cause of paediatric hospitalization and is frequently complicated by potentially severe electrolyte disturbances. This study aimed to determine the prevalence, specific patterns, and clinical correlates of serum electrolyte abnormalities in children admitted with AGE. Material and Methods: A retrospective cross-sectional study evaluated 50 children aged 6 months to 12 years hospitalized with AGE. Patient demographics, clinical dehydration status (classified via World Health Organization guidelines), and admission serum sodium and potassium levels were analysed. Statistical measures, including relative risk (RR) and odds ratios (OR), were utilized to quantify the clinical impact of dehydration on the likelihood of developing electrolyte imbalances. Results: Overall, 18% of the cohort exhibited serum electrolyte abnormalities. Hyponatremia emerged as the most common derangement, comprising 66.7% of all detected abnormalities and affecting 12% of the overall study population. Conversely, hypokalaemia (4%) and hypernatremia (2%) were infrequent. A highly significant statistical association was established between clinical dehydration and biochemical derangement. Electrolyte disturbances occurred in 75 % of clinically dehydrated children, compared to merely 7.1% of those presenting without dehydration. Consequently, dehydrated children faced a profoundly elevated risk of electrolyte imbalance, demonstrated by a relative risk of 10.5 and an exceptionally high odds ratio of 39. Conclusion: While electrolyte imbalances are uncommon in well-hydrated children with AGE, the presence of clinical dehydration drastically amplifies the risk of biochemical derangements, particularly hyponatremia. These findings highlight the critical need for targeted electrolyte monitoring in all dehydrated paediatric AGE patients to optimize fluid resuscitation protocols and prevent systemic complications.

Keywords: Acute gastroenteritis; Electrolyte disturbance; Hyponatremia; Paediatric dehydration; Relative risk; Odds ratio.