J Korean Child Neurol Soc.  2013 Sep;21(3):143-151.

Hyponatremia in Children with Central Nervous System Infections

• Kim SG
• Nam SO
• Kim YM
• Yeon GM
• Lee YJ

Abstract

PURPOSE
To compare the effect of different etiologies in children with central nervous system (CNS) infections on the incidence of initial and hospital-acquired hyponatremia (IH and HAH) (plasma sodium concentration, PNa <135 mEq/L).
METHODS
Children with CNS infections during the period between 2011 and 2012 were evaluated retrospectively. Patients were classified into 4 groups: group A, aseptic meningitis; group B, viral meningoencephalitis; group C, bacterial meningitis; group D, tuberculous meningitis. All patients had measured the initial PNa and were retested serially. By the sodium concentration of IV fluid, children were divided into 2 groups: group-I of <0.45% saline in dextrose, and group-II of > or =0.45% saline in dextrose.
RESULTS
Of 244 children with CNS infections (group A: 185, group B: 33, group C: 23, and group D: 3), 55 patients (22.5%) revealed IH- or HAH-hyponatremia. IH and HAH was found in 13.1% (32/244) and 9.4% (23/244), respectively. The incidence of IH was significantly higher in group-C (30.4%, P=0.010) than in group-A (9.2%) or group-B (21.2%). HAH was more frequent in group-B (27.3%, P<0.001) and in group-D (66.7%, P=0.001) than in group-A (4.9%) or in group-C (13.0%). Of the patients in group-I, 28.6% (8/28) developed more common HAH compared with 6.9% (15/216) of children in group-II (P<0.001).
CONCLUSION
IH and HAH were relatively common in children with CNS infections and their incidences were distinctly different among patients from different etiologies. It seems that the administration of hypertonic saline can help to reduce the incidence of HAH among children with CNS infections. election.

Keyword

Hyponatremia; Central nervous system infections; Meningitis; Child

MeSH Terms

Central Nervous System Infections*
Central Nervous System*
Child*
Glucose
Humans
Hyponatremia*
Incidence
Meningitis
Meningitis, Aseptic
Meningitis, Bacterial
Meningoencephalitis
Retrospective Studies
Sodium
Tuberculosis, Meningeal
Glucose
Sodium