Question

A toddler is admitted to the pediatric unit with diarrhea and severe dehydration. After several days of treatment, the child is evaluated. What clinical findings indicate that the child is rehydrated?

Select all that apply.
1. Decreased hematocrit
2. Increase in daily weight
3. Negative blood cultures
4. Increased sedimentation rate
5. Decreased blood urea nitrogen level

Answer 1

1. Decreased hematocrit.

2. Increase in daily weight.

5. Decreased blood urea nitrogen level.

Step-by-step explanation:

1. The hematocrit level shows the ratio of red blood cell to total volume of whole blood. When the hematocrit level is decreased it indicates that the concentration of red blood cell in whole blood has decreased hence, proves the child is hydrated.

2. Rehydration (improvement of water retention or restoration) is directly proportional to daily weight gain, since water has a significant weight (1 litre of water is approximately 1 kilogram. Therefore, increase in the child weight proves that the child is rehydrated.

3. Clinically blood culture doesn't give an information about water content or hydration.

4. Sedimentation rate is used to determine the rate at which red blood cells settles in a test tube; an increased sedimentation rate shows increased inflammatory processes.

5. Blood urea nitrogen level is inversely proportional to blood volume. Therefore decreased blood urea nitrogen level indicates rehydration, this shows the concentration of blood components are low compared to the total blood volume.