Explain Water and electrolyte imbalance during kwashiorkor?
The total body water and especially the extracellular fluid volume are increased in all forms of PEM. At the same time, there may be clinical signs of dehydration, particularly sunken eyes, loss of skin turgor, dry mucosa. As for the electrolytes, its total sodium is increased although in some cases the serum sodium and osmolarity are seen to be reduced. This is obvious in patients who have oedema and signs of dehydration. As for potassium it is usually deficient and magnesium deficiency is reported.