BACKGROUND: We report a case of shock, revealing a severe hypernatremia caused by salt poisoning in a 17-day-old male neonate. OBJECTIVE: We consider the physiopathology of salt overload in this context and the diagnostic strategy in neonate with hypernatremia. METHODS: We used patient history, weight, plasma, and urine osmolality to establish the diagnostic strategy. RESULTS: Salt poisoning in neonates manifests as intracellular dehydration without extracellular fluid accumulation. CONCLUSIONS: This poisoning underscores the need for providing appropriate help to mothers at discharge from the maternity ward or neonatology unit.
BACKGROUND: We report a case of shock, revealing a severe hypernatremia caused by saltpoisoning in a 17-day-old male neonate. OBJECTIVE: We consider the physiopathology of salt overload in this context and the diagnostic strategy in neonate with hypernatremia. METHODS: We used patient history, weight, plasma, and urine osmolality to establish the diagnostic strategy. RESULTS:Saltpoisoning in neonates manifests as intracellular dehydration without extracellular fluid accumulation. CONCLUSIONS: This poisoning underscores the need for providing appropriate help to mothers at discharge from the maternity ward or neonatology unit.