Question

A high school athlete is brought to the emergency department after collapsing during outdoor practice on a hot day. The patient is weak, irritable, and confused. Serum sodium is 152 mEq/L and has dry mucous membranes and tachycardia. What is the initial approach to rehydration in this patient?

Answer 1

Initial Approach to Rehydration in Patient

A high school athlete is brought to the emergency department after collapsing during outdoor practice on a hot day. The patient is weak, irritable, and confused. Serum sodium is 152 mEq/L and has dry mucous membranes and tachycardia. Sweating is the initial approach to rehydration in this patient.

Answer 2

A high school athlete is brought to the emergency department after he collapsed during outdoor practice on a hot day. His sodium level is not adequate. He is weak and irritable. So the first thing that should be done is to give him water with salt and sugar dissolved in it. This will hydrate him instantly and will balance the lack of sodium in his body.

This is what initially done to make him hydrate. His body needs minerals and sodium which he lost during the hot sunny day outdoor on a practice session through sweating.

This combination of salt and sugar in water will provide him instant energy.