Acute water intoxication in an adult man: 'dental hyponatraemia' revisited.

Publisher: The College Country of Publication: England NLM ID: 101092853 Publication Model: Print Cited Medium: Internet ISSN: 1473-4893 (Electronic) Linking ISSN: 14702118 NLM ISO Abbreviation: Clin Med (Lond) Subsets: MEDLINE

Original Publication: London : The College, c2001-

Hyponatremia*/diagnosis ; Hyponatremia*/etiology ; Water Intoxication*/complications ; Water Intoxication*/diagnosis; Acute Disease ; Adult ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Humans ; Male ; Water

The differential diagnosis of hyponatraemia is notoriously wide. However, only a minority is acute, ie develops in less than 48 hours. We describe an unusual cause of water intoxication due to toothache. A 30-year-old man with no medical history of note presented in an acute confusional state. Laboratory results disclosed profound hyponatraemia. Urinary indices were consistent with overdrinking, but in the absence of a reliable history, other aetiologies had to be excluded. This case highlights the benefit of a structured approach in the assessment of electrolyte disturbances.
(© Royal College of Physicians 2022. All rights reserved.)

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Keywords: dental hyponatraemia; water intoxication

059QF0KO0R (Water)

Date Created: 20220726 Date Completed: 20220728 Latest Revision: 20240426

20240426

PMC9345204

10.7861/clinmed.2022-0141

35882484