Final answer:
The arterial lactate level can rise in seriously ill or injured children due to tissue hypoxia and anaerobic metabolism. When the body is more active, oxygen levels fall and carbon dioxide levels rise, causing the blood pH to drop. This condition can be identified using the lactate dehydrogenase enzyme.
Step-by-step explanation:
In the seriously ill or injured child, the arterial lactate level can
Rise
as a result of tissue hypoxia and anaerobic metabolism. When the body is more active, oxygen levels fall and carbon dioxide levels rise as cells undergo cellular respiration. This leads to the production of more hydrogen ions, causing the blood pH to drop. In such cases, the lactate dehydrogenase enzyme is released into the plasma, making it difficult to trace the specific organ from which it leaked.