STUDY - Technical - New Dacian's Medicine
Polydipsia
(Classical / Allopathic Medicine)
Polydipsia
refers to excessive thirst, a common symptom associated
with endocrine disorders and certain drugs. It may reflect
decreased fluid intake, increased urine output, or
excessive loss of water and salt. Polydipsia is also a
common occurrence in psychiatric patients, especially
those who are psychotic.
HISTORY:
Ask the patient when he first noticed the increased thirst. Find out how much fluid the patient drinks each day and at what time of the day the thirst occurs.
Review the patient's medical history for diabetes, kidney disease, recurrent infection, and psychological disorders. Also, ask the patient if there's a family history of diabetes or kidney disease.
Ask the patient how often and how much he typically urinates. Find out if the need to urinate awakens him at night.
Ask the patient if he has had a recent lifestyle change. If so, have these changes upset him?
Ask the patient about recent weight loss or gain. Review his exercise and dietary habits. (See Water intoxication.)
Obtain a drug history, including prescription and over-the-counter drugs, herbal remedies, and recreational drugs. Also, ask the patient about alcohol intake.
Ask the patient when he first noticed the increased thirst. Find out how much fluid the patient drinks each day and at what time of the day the thirst occurs.
Review the patient's medical history for diabetes, kidney disease, recurrent infection, and psychological disorders. Also, ask the patient if there's a family history of diabetes or kidney disease.
Ask the patient how often and how much he typically urinates. Find out if the need to urinate awakens him at night.
Ask the patient if he has had a recent lifestyle change. If so, have these changes upset him?
Ask the patient about recent weight loss or gain. Review his exercise and dietary habits. (See Water intoxication.)
Obtain a drug history, including prescription and over-the-counter drugs, herbal remedies, and recreational drugs. Also, ask the patient about alcohol intake.
PHYSICAL
ASSESSMENT:
Take the patient's blood pressure and pulse when he's in the supine and standing positions.
Check for signs of dehydration, such as dry mucous membranes and decreased skin turgor.
Check for signs of bleeding, noting edema, if present.
Take the patient's blood pressure and pulse when he's in the supine and standing positions.
Check for signs of dehydration, such as dry mucous membranes and decreased skin turgor.
Check for signs of bleeding, noting edema, if present.
SPECIAL
CONSIDERATIONS:
Carefully monitor the patient's fluid balance. Weigh the patient at the same time and in the same type of clothes each day.
Carefully monitor the patient's fluid balance. Weigh the patient at the same time and in the same type of clothes each day.
Water
intoxication
Water intoxication, which can occur after ingestion of large amounts of water, causes cerebral swelling and fluid build-up in the lungs. Many athletes (such as marathon runners, cyclists, and hikers) consume large amounts of water to prevent dehydration. However, this over-consumption can cause blood plasma to increase, resulting in dilution of the sodium content of the blood. The athlete also loses sodium to sweat.
Water intoxication may also be a lethal consequence of the ingestion of the street drug called “ecstasy,” which induces a syndrome of inappropriate antidiuretic hormone secretion.
Water intoxication, which can occur after ingestion of large amounts of water, causes cerebral swelling and fluid build-up in the lungs. Many athletes (such as marathon runners, cyclists, and hikers) consume large amounts of water to prevent dehydration. However, this over-consumption can cause blood plasma to increase, resulting in dilution of the sodium content of the blood. The athlete also loses sodium to sweat.
Water intoxication may also be a lethal consequence of the ingestion of the street drug called “ecstasy,” which induces a syndrome of inappropriate antidiuretic hormone secretion.
PEDIATRIC
POINTERS:
In children, polydipsia usually stems from diabetes insipidus or diabetes mellitus. Rare causes include pheochromocytoma, neuroblastoma, and Prader-Willi syndrome.
Some children develop habitual polydipsia that's unrelated to any disease.
In children, polydipsia usually stems from diabetes insipidus or diabetes mellitus. Rare causes include pheochromocytoma, neuroblastoma, and Prader-Willi syndrome.
Some children develop habitual polydipsia that's unrelated to any disease.
PATIENT
COUNSELING:
Because thirst is the body's way of compensating for water loss, tell the patient to drink plenty of liquids, if appropriate.
Because thirst is the body's way of compensating for water loss, tell the patient to drink plenty of liquids, if appropriate.
Bibliography:
1. Rapid Assessment, A
Flowchart Guide to Evaluating Signs & Symptoms, Lippincott
Williams & Wilkins, 2004.
2. Professional Guide to
Signs and symptoms, Edition V, Lippincott
Williams & Wilkins, 2007.
3. Guide to common symptoms,
Edition V, McGraw - Hill, 2002.