Severe Hypernatremic Dehydration in an Exclusively Breastfed Neonate
Neonatal hypernatremic dehydration is a serious condition associated with inadequate fluid intake, often due to insufficient lactation. In addition to the complications directly related to the condition itself, the re-establishment of plasma tonicity may also lead to serious consequences if done abruptly. Management involves careful fluid restoration and gradual correction of electrolyte imbalance. The increasing incidence of this clinical condition highlights the importance of raising awareness among parents and healthcare professionals for early diagnosis and prevention. We report a case of severe hypernatremic dehydration in a 16-day-old exclusively breastfed newborn, emphasizing its clinical management.
Authors
- Mónica Marçal (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3886-3330)
- Madalena Tuna (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5831-3403)
- Filipa Dionísio Vieira (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6423-9449)
- Melissa Figueiredo
- Marta Figueiredo
Institutions
- Hospital of St. Francis Xavier (PT)
- Universidade Nova de Lisboa (PT)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Cureus
- Published
- 2026-02-04
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.102947
- Primary Topic
- Electrolyte and hormonal disorders
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.00