How does a sodium/potassium pump rehydrate a cholera patient?
Sunday, November 22nd, 2009 at
8:03 AM
with mild to moderate dehydration?
Filed under: Potassium and Being Sick
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It basically replaces the blood electrolytes that are lost through diarrhoea. The volume of fluid lost with cholera infection can be up to 20 litres a day. Fluid loss of this magnitude will lead to dehydration and circulatory collapse. Fluids and electrolytes must be replaced.
Sodium and potassium are important elements to have in your body. One of the main symptoms of cholera is diarrhoea. A lot of water is lost from the body during diarrhoea, not to mention important electrolytes (ie sodium and potassium). The replacement of potassium and sodium (and, of course, water) will re-hydrate the body.