![]() In addition to total body water differences, the percent of body weight accounted for by intracellular and extracellular water also changes. 2, 3 In fact, if this weight loss does not occur, there is cause for concern for renal dysfunction and sepsis. 2Īfter birth, infants are expected to lose approximately 5%-15% of their body weight, with more being lost in low birth weight infants. 2 Most adults' total body water is between 50% and 60% of total body weight. 1 This slowly decreases until the child is around one year of age, when total body water content is about 60% of total body weight. At 24 weeks gestational age, a baby's total body water content is close to 80% of total body weight. Total body water content changes drastically from before birth until one year of age. Monitoring fluid and electrolyte therapy is an important role of the pediatric pharmacist. Hydration status can affect the dose needed to achieve therapeutic concentrations, and dehydrated patients may be at risk for toxicity if standard doses of drugs with high volumes of distribution are used. Fluid therapy can also have an impact on drug therapy. ![]() Maintenance electrolyte requirements must be taken into account, with particular attention paid to sodium requirements, as recent evidence suggests that sodium needs in hospitalized children are higher than originally thought. Accounting for deficits when determining the fluid infusion rate is an important factor in treating dehydrated patients deficit fluid is generally administered over the first 24 hours of hospitalization. The Holliday-Segar equation remains the standard method for calculating maintenance fluid requirements. Fluid therapy is divided into maintenance, deficit, and replacement requirements. Managing fluids and electrolytes in children is an important skill for pharmacists, who can play an important role in monitoring therapy. ![]()
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