Section 1: Fluid Status and Bowel Function

Fluid

Severe fluid imbalances
Severe imbalances in fluid status have serious health implications. Both dehydration and water intoxication can lead to lethargy, electrolyte imbalances, seizures and death.

Problems that can lead to severe fluid imbalances include:

• improper formula mixing (too much or too little water added to powder or formula concentrate)
• increased fluid needs (for example, because of fever, hot weather, or increased fluid excretion because of vomiting or diarrhea)
• inadequate fluid intake (for example, because of swallowing difficulties or decreased intake because of illness)

Severe fluid imbalances require immediate medical attention and will not be covered in this module.

Fluid status and bowel function
Fluid status and bowel function are very closely linked.

An individual’s fluid status has a direct effect on bowel function...

Problems with constipation can result from an inadequate fluid intake, either because of problems consuming enough fluid, or because of increased fluid losses, such as with drooling. (There are other contributors to constipation, and these will be reviewed later in this section.)

...And an individual’s bowel function can have a direct effect on fluid status.

For example, diarrhea increases a child’s fluid needs.