Fluid, Electrolyte and Acid-Base Disturbances

children balancing on a log

One of the main roles of the kidneys is to maintain the correct acid-base balance in the body. The correct acid-base balance is essential for everything in the body to function. When acid-base balance is too low or too high, the chemical reactions that maintain the health of the body cannot occur, and molecules like proteins cannot maintain their shape. This can cause serious illness, organ failure and even death.

Acid-base balance, or pH, is determined by the number of free hydrogen ions in the blood. When there are more hydrogen ions, the pH is low, and the body is more acidic. Fewer hydrogen ions makes the body more alkaline.

The kidney maintains the correct pH by excreting hydrogen ions in urine to remove them from the body when the pH is too low. The kidneys can also resorb bicarbonate from urine to keep it in the body, which raises pH and makes the blood more alkaline.

Damaged kidneys cannot easily maintain a balance of acids and bases in the body. This can result in acidosis, or too much acid, or alkalosis, which is too much base. These conditions must be diagnosed promptly so doctors can treat the problem before it gets worse.

Renal tubal acidosis is a disease caused by the kidneys’ inability to excrete acids from the blood into the urine, making the blood too acidic.

Symptoms of Pediatric Acid-Base and Electrolyte Disorders

Some children have few symptoms. Others demonstrate:

  • Confusion
  • Lethargy
  • Rapid breathing (hyperventilation)
  • Shock; if the body is not receiving enough blood flow, oxygen flow to organs is disrupted

Diagnosis of Pediatric Acid-Base and Electrolyte Disorders

Often, children with pediatric kidney imbalances have an underlying condition, such as diabetes, cancer, liver disease or kidney disease. Achild’s doctor may order several tests to confirm a diagnosis, such as:

  • Urine pH. A urine sample is tested immediately by inserting a dipstick into the sample, which indicates the level of acid in the child’s urine.
  • Serum electrolytes. This blood test measures the body’s most significant electrolytes, including sodium, potassium, chloride, and bicarbonate, which help the body maintain a healthy balance of fluids and acid levels.

Treatment of Pediatric Acid-Base and Electrolyte Disorders

Determining the treatment type for acid-base and electrolyte disorders depends on the underlying cause. Treatments may include:

  • Dietary restrictions
  • Controlling the child’s blood sugar levels
  • Prescription medication called phosphate binders to counteract high phosphate levels in the blood

Depending on the underlying conditions, a child with a pediatric kidney imbalance may need to be treated by a multidisciplinary team that could include nephrologists, urologists, oncologists and nutritionists.

Patient Stories

  • Everyone at CSH made me feel like my opinions and concerns were being heard, they explained every step and gave us lessons to apply at home.

    Mekhi
    Read More
  • It was hard being in the hospital for so long, but we were grateful that CSH allowed parents to stay. The hospital had a family lounge, game nights, and lots of ways to keep the parents informed. We had weekly meetings with his care team and received daily ...

    Patrick
    Read More
  • "Tyler and Sam do an excellent job at stepping back and seeing the whole picture and providing thorough information for us to assist Elias, and that's huge. That's what everybody needs and deserves, and their children deserve when going to services, and ...

    Elias
    Read More

Patient Stories

  • Watch Testimonial
  • Watch Testimonial
  • Watch Testimonial
Medical Specialty Services at Bayonne
16 East 29th Street
Bayonne, NJ 07002
(973) 926-7280
View
Barnabas Health Ambulatory Care Center
200 South Orange Avenue
Livingston, NJ 07039
(973) 322-7000
View
Jersey City Medical Center at Greenville
1825 John F. Kennedy Boulevard
1st Floor
Jersey City, NJ 07305
(201) 395-7600
View
Cooperman Barnabas Medical Center
94 Old Short Hills Road
Livingston, NJ 07039
(973) 322-5000
View
Monmouth Medical Center
300 Second Avenue
Long Branch, NJ 07740
(732) 222-5200
View
Clara Maass Medical Center
1 Clara Maass Drive
Belleville, NJ 07109
(973) 450-2000
View
Community Medical Center
99 Highway 37 West
Toms River, NJ 08755
(732) 557-8000
View
Newark Beth Israel Medical Center
201 Lyons Avenue at Osborne Terrace
Newark, NJ 07112
(973) 926-7000
View
Children's Hospital of New Jersey at Newark Beth Israel Medical Center
201 Lyons Avenue at Osborne Terrace
Newark, NJ 07112
(973) 926-7000
View
Jersey City Medical Center
355 Grand Street
Jersey City, NJ 07302
(201) 915-2000
View
The Bristol-Myers Squibb Children's Hospital at RWJUH
200 Somerset Street
New Brunswick, NJ 08901
(732) 828-3000
View
The Unterberg Children's Hospital at Monmouth Medical Center
300 2nd Avenue
Long Branch, NJ 07740
(732) 923-7250
View
Children's Specialized Hospital Outpatient Center – East Brunswick
629 Cranbury Road
East Brunswick, NJ 08816
(732) 258-7040
View
Jersey City Medical Center's Ambulatory Care Center
395 Grand Street
Jersey City, NJ 07304
(201) 915-2410
View
Children's Specialized Hospital
200 Somerset Street
New Brunswick, NJ 08901
(888) 244-5373
View
RWJ University Hospital Hamilton
1 Hamilton Health Place
Hamilton, NJ 08690
(609) 586-7900
View
Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital
1 Robert Wood Johnson Place
New Brunswick, NJ 08901
(732) 828-3000
View
Jersey City Medical Center Outpatient Services at Colony Plaza
414 Grand Street
Suite 14
Jersey City, NJ 07302
(201) 616-0470
View
The Pediatric Specialty Center at Cooperman Barnabas - West Orange
375 Mount Pleasant Avenue
Suite 105
West Orange, NJ 07052
(973) 322-6900
View
Children's Specialized Hospital Outpatient Center – New Brunswick Plum Street
10 Plum Street
6th Floor
New Brunswick, NJ 08901
(732) 258-7100
View
Children's Specialized Hospital Outpatient Center – Egg Harbor Township
6106 Black Horse Pike
Egg Harbor Township, NJ 08234
(609) 645-7779
View
Children's Specialized Hospital Outpatient Center – Bayonne
519 Broadway
Bayonne, NJ 07002
(888) 244-5373
View
The Family Health Center (FHC) at Newark Beth Israel Medical Center
166 Lyons Avenue
Newark, NJ 07112
(973) 926-7000
View
Children's Specialized Hospital Long Term Care Center – Mountainside
150 New Providence Road
Mountainside, NJ 07092
(908) 233-3720
View
Children's Specialized Hospital Outpatient Center – Newark
182 Lyons Avenue
Newark, NJ 07112
(973) 391-2960
View
Children's Specialized Hospital Outpatient Center – Hamilton
3575 Quakerbridge Road
Hamilton Township, NJ 08619
(609) 631-2800
View
Children's Specialized Hospital Outpatient Center – Toms River - Highway 37 West
1251 Highway 37 West
Toms River, NJ 08755
(732) 281-3900
View

Pediatrics Treatment & Care

offered at these locations in your neighborhood

View All Locations