Why are infants particularly susceptible to developing dehydration?
A)Their mass-to-surface ratio is low.
B)Their insulation is poor, resulting in increased water loss.
C)Their renal concentrating ability is less than that of older children.
D)The increased liquidity of their stools results in greater fluid loss.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Under normal conditions, breastmilk and formula provide infants with adequate water.However, if formula is boiled, water evaporation can lead to concentration of formula solids.This places stress on the immature kidneys of the infant.This is also why providing commercially prepared adult foods to an infant could be problematic-the higher sodium concentration of these foods could exceed the infant's renal solute load.Infants should be monitored when they live in hot, humid conditions and when they have episodes of diarrhea or vomiting.Watching for the number of wet diapers is one of the ways to do this.

Why Are Infants Particularly Susceptible to Developing Dehydration