Dangers of Hydra-Lyte

Hypernatremia was frequent in the United States when oral electrolyte solutions containing 50 mEq of sodium per liter were utilized in the management of infantile diarrhea1,2; it has become less frequent in Great Britain since the introduction of low-solute milk (required to contain less than 20 mEq of sodium per liter).3 In underdeveloped communities, however, diarrhea has been successfully managed (without the development of hypernatremia) by the oral administration of solutions containing 80 to 90 mEq of sodium per liter.4,5