RT Book, Section A1 Jaffe, Jon A1 Whitworth, Richard A2 Stone, C. Keith A2 Humphries, Roger L. A2 Drigalla, Dorian A2 Stephan, Maria SR Print(0) ID 1106020460 T1 Fluids and Electrolyte Balance T2 CURRENT Diagnosis & Treatment: Pediatric Emergency Medicine YR 2014 FD 2014 PB McGraw-Hill Education PP New York, NY SN 9780071799454 LK accesspediatrics.mhmedical.com/content.aspx?aid=1106020460 RD 2024/03/28 AB The management of fluid and electrolyte balance in children is an ever-present challenge in the practice of emergency medicine. The varying size of patients coupled with their dependency on others to provide alimentation, both during healthy times and illness, add to the challenge. The ambient environment and multiple organ systems, including the skin, alimentary tract, lungs, kidneys, heart, vasculature, and muscles, joined by multiple endocrine systems create the balance. Although most patients are in the emergency department for short periods of time, the diagnosis of the fluid and electrolyte status needs to have a wider scope. There are formulas for calculating the proper amounts of fluids and solute for patients, but the calculations have to be modified over time. The fluid status of a patient needs to be reassessed on a regular basis regardless of the calculations.