Linked Life Data

15554954

Source:http://linkedlifedata.com/resource/pubmed/id/15554954

Statements in which the resource exists as a subject.
PredicateObject
rdf:type
lifeskim:mentions
pubmed:issue
6
pubmed:dateCreated
2004-11-23
pubmed:abstractText
Excessive ingestion of salt is a well-recognized cause of hypernatraemia in children, is uncommonly recognized in debilitated elderly persons, but is rarely diagnosed in healthy, independent adults. We report a case of fatal salt poisoning in a 20-year-old lady who suffered of post-natal depression and ingested large quantities of salt as part of exorcism ritual. She presented with the highest ever documented serum sodium level of 255 mmol L(-1), associated with severe neurological impairment that was unresponsive to aggressive hypotonic fluid replacement. Post-mortem examination ruled out any other possible probable cause of death. The medical literature was reviewed, and 16 previous cases of severe hypernatraemia in adults secondary to excessive salt ingestion were retrieved. Common features of all reported cases included female gender (95% of cases) and evidence of underlying cognitive or psychiatric disorders (all reported cases). We conclude that women with documented cognitive or psychiatric disorders, in particular depression, are susceptible for psychogenic salt poisoning. Awareness should be raised to the potentially life-risking use of salty beverages as emetics or as part of 'exorcism' rituals.
pubmed:language
eng
pubmed:journal
pubmed:citationSubset
IM
pubmed:chemical
pubmed:status
MEDLINE
pubmed:month
Dec
pubmed:issn
0954-6820
pubmed:author
pubmed:issnType
Print
pubmed:volume
256
pubmed:owner
NLM
pubmed:authorsComplete
Y
pubmed:pagination
525-8
pubmed:dateRevised
2005-11-16
pubmed:meshHeading
pubmed:year
2004
pubmed:articleTitle
Fatal voluntary salt intake resulting in the highest ever documented sodium plasma level in adults (255 mmol L-1): a disorder linked to female gender and psychiatric disorders.
pubmed:affiliation
Department of Medicine, Hadassah Hebrew University Medical Center, Jerusalem, Israel.
pubmed:publicationType
Journal Article, Review, Case Reports