Final answer:
A burn patient can become hyponatremic due to dilutional hyponatremia, which occurs when excessive or too rapid administration of intravenous fluids during resuscitation dilutes the blood's sodium content, leading to swelling of cells and potential serious health consequences.
Step-by-step explanation:
A burn patient can become hyponatremic in the acute phase of treatment primarily due to dilutional hyponatremia. This condition occurs when there is a relative decrease in blood sodium levels caused by an imbalance of sodium in the body's other fluid compartments or from the dilution of sodium due to water retention related to conditions such as edema or congestive heart failure. In the specific context of burn patients, aggressive fluid resuscitation is necessary to combat shock and dehydration resulting from the injury. The administered intravenous fluids, typically isotonic crystalloids, are designed to match the body's natural fluid composition. However, in cases where resuscitation is excessive or the rate of fluid administration is too rapid, this can dilute the sodium in the extracellular fluid (ECF), leading to hyponatremia. This excessive fluid can cause swelling of the cells, including red blood cells and neurons, which can be detrimental to the patient's health, possibly causing brain damage or death if not addressed.