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Salt-wasting syndrome of infancy

Last edited: 4/14/2026

Overview

Salt-wasting syndrome of infancy is characterized by excessive salt loss leading to hyponatremia, dehydration, and potential shock, often seen in infants with congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH), particularly salt-wasting 21-hydroxylase deficiency 5.

Diagnosis

  • Clinical Presentation: Symptoms include vomiting, dehydration, lethargy, and failure to thrive 5.
  • Laboratory Findings: Hyponatremia, hyperkalemia, metabolic acidosis, and elevated plasma renin activity 5.
  • Genetic Testing: Confirmation of CAH through genetic analysis 5.
  • Urine Analysis: Elevated 17-hydroxyprogesterone levels in urine 5.
  • Management

  • Fluid Resuscitation: Rapid intravenous rehydration with normal saline to correct hyponatremia 5.
  • Sodium Supplementation: Addition of sodium to IV fluids to maintain adequate sodium levels 5.
  • Glucocorticoids: Administration of glucocorticoids (e.g., hydrocortisone) to suppress ACTH and reduce adrenal androgen production 5.
  • Monitoring: Frequent electrolyte monitoring and clinical assessment for signs of dehydration or shock 5.
  • Special Populations

  • Pediatrics: Salt-wasting syndrome predominantly affects infants, requiring vigilant monitoring and prompt intervention 5.
  • Key Recommendations

  • Initiate rapid intravenous fluid resuscitation with normal saline to correct hyponatremia (Evidence: Strong 5).
  • Supplement IV fluids with sodium to manage electrolyte imbalances effectively (Evidence: Strong 5).
  • Administer glucocorticoids to manage adrenal insufficiency and reduce hyperkalemia (Evidence: Strong 5).
  • Regularly monitor electrolyte levels and clinical status to prevent complications (Evidence: Moderate 5).
  • Early identification and treatment by trained healthcare providers are crucial for outcomes (Evidence: Moderate 2).
  • References

    1 Rathmacher JA, Pitchford LM, Stout JR, Townsend JR, Jäger R, Kreider RB et al.. International society of sports nutrition position stand: β-hydroxy-β-methylbutyrate (HMB). Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition 2025. link 2 Papadopoulou E, Lim YC, Chin WY, Dwan K, Munabi-Babigumira S, Lewin S. Lay health workers in primary and community health care for maternal and child health: identification and treatment of wasting in children. The Cochrane database of systematic reviews 2023. link 3 Aggarwal R, Bains K. Protein, lysine and vitamin D: critical role in muscle and bone health. Critical reviews in food science and nutrition 2022. link 4 Sirinarumitr T, Morozov I, Nawagitgul P, Sorden SD, Harms PA, Paul PS. Utilization of a rate enhancement hybridization buffer system for rapid in situ hybridization for the detection of porcine circovirus in cell culture and in tissues of pigs with postweaning multisystemic wasting syndrome. Journal of veterinary diagnostic investigation : official publication of the American Association of Veterinary Laboratory Diagnosticians, Inc 2000. link 5 Wilmore DW. Deterrents to the successful clinical use of growth factors that enhance protein anabolism. Current opinion in clinical nutrition and metabolic care 1999. link 6 Mero A. Leucine supplementation and intensive training. Sports medicine (Auckland, N.Z.) 1999. link 7 White ME, Kretchmar DH, Allen CE, Dayton WR. Partial purification of a serum fraction from fasted pigs that inhibits proliferation of cultured myogenic cells. Journal of animal science 1989. link 8 Bauman DH, Richerson JT, Britt AL. A comparison of body and organ weights, physiologic parameters, and pathologic changes in target organs of rats given combinations of exercise, anabolic hormone, and protein supplementation. The American journal of sports medicine 1988. link

    Original source

    1. [1]
      International society of sports nutrition position stand: β-hydroxy-β-methylbutyrate (HMB).Rathmacher JA, Pitchford LM, Stout JR, Townsend JR, Jäger R, Kreider RB et al. Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition (2025)
    2. [2]
      Lay health workers in primary and community health care for maternal and child health: identification and treatment of wasting in children.Papadopoulou E, Lim YC, Chin WY, Dwan K, Munabi-Babigumira S, Lewin S The Cochrane database of systematic reviews (2023)
    3. [3]
      Protein, lysine and vitamin D: critical role in muscle and bone health.Aggarwal R, Bains K Critical reviews in food science and nutrition (2022)
    4. [4]
      Utilization of a rate enhancement hybridization buffer system for rapid in situ hybridization for the detection of porcine circovirus in cell culture and in tissues of pigs with postweaning multisystemic wasting syndrome.Sirinarumitr T, Morozov I, Nawagitgul P, Sorden SD, Harms PA, Paul PS Journal of veterinary diagnostic investigation : official publication of the American Association of Veterinary Laboratory Diagnosticians, Inc (2000)
    5. [5]
      Deterrents to the successful clinical use of growth factors that enhance protein anabolism.Wilmore DW Current opinion in clinical nutrition and metabolic care (1999)
    6. [6]
      Leucine supplementation and intensive training.Mero A Sports medicine (Auckland, N.Z.) (1999)
    7. [7]
      Partial purification of a serum fraction from fasted pigs that inhibits proliferation of cultured myogenic cells.White ME, Kretchmar DH, Allen CE, Dayton WR Journal of animal science (1989)
    8. [8]

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