Ann Trop Paediatr
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Body water and plasma volume in severe community-acquired pneumonia: implications for fluid therapy.
To determine changes in total and extracellular body water, plasma volume and sodium in children with severe and very severe pneumonia, and examine the association between these changes and oxygenation. ⋯ ECW and PV were moderately increased in severe and very severe pneumonia and the increase correlated with better oxygenation. These findings suggest that fluid retention in response to hypoxaemia is directed towards improving circulating volume. The current practice of fluid restriction in hypoxaemic patients with severe pneumonia might be logical only after correction of hypoxaemia.