Why are infants susceptible to significant losses in total body water (TBW)?
A)Because more than half of an infant's body weight is water
B)Because infants have a slow metabolic rate
C)Because an infant's kidneys are not mature enough to counter fluids losses
D)Because they are unable communicate adequately when they are thirsty

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Infants are particularly susceptible to significant changes in TBW because of their high metabolic rate and the accelerated turnover of body fluids caused by their greater body surface area in proportion to total body size. Loss of fluids from diarrhea can represent a significant proportion of body weight. Renal mechanisms that regulate fluid and electrolyte conservation may not be mature enough to counter the losses, so dehydration may develop rapidly.

Why Are Infants Susceptible to Significant Losses in Total Body