Condition Lookup
Sub-Category:
Electrolyte Disorders
Number of Conditions: 1
Severe Electrolyte Imbalances
Specialty: Emergency and Urgent Care
Category: Renal and Urologic Emergencies
Sub-category: Electrolyte Disorders
Symptoms:
muscle weakness; cramps; nausea; confusion; seizures; cardiac arrhythmias; paralysis; fatigue; tetany; altered mental status
Root Cause:
Abnormal levels of critical electrolytes such as potassium, sodium, calcium, magnesium, and phosphate in the blood, resulting from renal dysfunction, medications, endocrine disorders, or fluid imbalance.
How it's Diagnosed: videos
Blood tests for electrolyte levels, arterial blood gas analysis for acid-base status, and ECG to detect arrhythmias. History and clinical examination are also key.
Treatment:
Depends on the specific electrolyte imbalance
Medications:
Calcium supplements (e.g., calcium gluconate)
Prevalence:
How common the health condition is within a specific population.
Common in hospitalized patients, particularly those with kidney disease, heart failure, or endocrine disorders.
Risk Factors:
Factors or behaviors that increase the likelihood of developing the condition.
Chronic kidney disease, diuretics, excessive fluid loss, endocrine disorders (e.g., diabetes insipidus, SIADH), and critical illnesses.
Prognosis:
The expected outcome or course of the condition over time.
With prompt recognition and treatment, outcomes are typically favorable; however, severe imbalances can cause life-threatening complications if untreated.
Complications:
Additional problems or conditions that may arise as a result of the original condition.
Cardiac arrest, respiratory failure, seizures, neuromuscular dysfunction, and multi-organ failure.