Shock revealing salt poisoning in a neonate.

BACKGROUND

We report a case of shock, revealing a severe hypernatremia caused by salt poisoning in a 17-day-old male neonate.

OBJECTIVE

We consider the physiopathology of salt overload in this context and the diagnostic strategy in neonate with hypernatremia.

METHODS

We used patient history, weight, plasma, and urine osmolality to establish the diagnostic strategy.

RESULTS

Salt poisoning in neonates manifests as intracellular dehydration without extracellular fluid accumulation.

CONCLUSIONS

This poisoning underscores the need for providing appropriate help to mothers at discharge from the maternity ward or neonatology unit.