Infantile Water Intoxication at Home

Abstract

Water intoxication in infants living at home has been considered an unusual entity.1-4 This paper describes two infants who were seen because of seizures. It appears that the metabolic derangements were a consequence of parental error. In view of the similarity between these and previously reported cases,1-4 including the context of parental poverty, the problem and population at risk may be more common than previously recognized. CASE REPORTS Case 1 T.W. is a 5-month-old boy with no previously known health problems. After being irritable for most of the afternoon, he developed generalized seizures in the evening. His temperature was 97 F rectally, blood pressure 70 mm Hg by palpation, pulse rate was 132 beats per minute, and respirations 20/min.