Definition:
Water intoxication is also referred to as hyperhydration or simply water poisoning. It is the potential disturbance of the brain function where in normal balance of electrolytes is forced outside of safe limits by water. It is also the extreme retention of water with sodium reduction.
Diagnosis:
The doctor will make sure that the patient's symptoms are because of water intoxication. Water intoxication is distinguished by excess water both in and around the cells of the body while excess volume of blood happens when the body has too much sodium and cannot move water to basins in the cells.
Treatment:
For mild water intoxication only fluid restriction is required. In severe cases treatment used are diuretics to increase urination, saline to restore sodium electrolyte levels and vasopressin receptor antagonists.
Symptoms and Signs:
Water intoxication symptoms are nausea, muscle cramps, difficulty in concentrating, speech is slurred, confusion, hyponatremia, gastrointestinal dilation, bladder is dilated, hydronephrosis and edema.
Causes:
There are possible medications that cause water intoxification which are concentraid, DDVAP, desmopressin, minirin, octostim and stimate.
Combination of certain drugs, medications and substances or toxins may cause a reaction that leads to water intoxication.
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