Adequate hydration in babies and children:

 Parents may think that giving young children water and other fluids to prevent dehydration is a good idea, but when a baby is breastfeeding, breast milk or formula provides all the fluids healthy babies need. The Johns Hopkins Children's Center advises parent with babies under 6 months to never give them too much water. If babies are thirsty, they needs to drink more breast milk or formula. 

 

According to James P. Keating, MD, former medical director of the St. Louis Children's Hospital Diagnostic Center, if a child needs more water, parents should "limit the child's intake to 60 to 90 grams at a time , and water should only be offered after the child has satisfied hunger through breastfeeding or formula. (13) Older children may be given some water from time to time to prevent constipation, or if they are too hungry heat, but it is usually best for parents to discuss this with the pediatrician.

 

Children under the age of 8 should obtain water through hydrating foods (such as fruits and vegetables) or drink about five to seven glasses of water a day (eight ounces per glass). (14) When they are thirsty, it is better for children to drink small amounts of water or fresh juice rather than sugary fruit juices, sodas, sports drinks, iced tea, and flavored drinks.

 

Statistics / facts about water poisoning

Surveys have shown that 15-30 percent of all patients develop hyponatremia during their hospital stay. Not all cases of hyponatremia result in water toxicity, but in a small number of cases.

A 2002 study publishes in the New England Journal of Medicine examining hyponatremia in Boston marathon runners stated, "Hyponatremia has become a major cause of running-related death and life-threatening illness among marathon runners." (15) The study found that 13 percent of runners finished the race with hyponatremia, while 0.6 percent had critical hyponatremia (sodium level 120 mmol per liter or less). The analyz showed that hyponatremia was associated with “significant weight gain during running, fluid intake above 3 liters during running, fluid intake per mile, run duration >4:00 hours, female gender, and low body size . -mass index.” The study also showed that hyponatremia was just as likely in runners who drank alcohol as it was in water users.

It is difficult to says how many deaths from water poisoning occur each year, but this number is believed to be small (less than 10 deaths per year in the United States).

Precautions for water poisoning

If you suspects that you or someone else is suffering from water poisoning, seek immediate help in the emergency department. Look for sudden electrolyte balance symptoms such as confusion and dizziness, especially after strenuous exercise or conditions such as low blood pressure and/or diabetes. Be sure to drink enough water during your hospital stay, after surgery, when participating in a marathon / long distance run, or during a bout of dehydration or illness (such as fever).

Final Thoughts on Water Poisoning

Water intoxication is a serious form of hyponatremia, an electrolyte imbalance caused by insufficient sodium in the body compared to water.

Water toxicity most often occurs when someone drinks more than 1.5 liters of water in an hour, especially if they exercise strenuously, have kidney failure, kidney problems, diabetes, or a mental illness that affects their judgment.

Symptoms of water intoxications can include confusion, disorientation, nausea, vomiting, headache and, in severe cases, brain damage from edema, seizures, coma, and possibly death.

Hydration is important, but to avoid water intoxication and hyponatremia, you should drink the right amount of water in proportion to the amount of sodium you lose to deal with underlying medical conditions, maintain a balanced diet, and pay attention to thirst. ...

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