Oral salt supplementation for the correction of hyponatremia in a child with cerebral salt wasting after traumatic brain injury: A case report

Abstract

Cerebral salt wasting (CSW) is a very rare cause of hyponatremia in children with traumatic brain injury (TBI). Hypertonic saline solutions are the mainstay of acute treatment. However, this may not be readily available or affordable in resource-limited settings. Such cases necessitate the use of cheaper and more readily available alternatives such as table salt. We present a 2-year-old boy who was managed for severe TBI and developed polyuria, dehydration, hypotension, and hyponatremia, with a diagnosis of CSW. He received 3% saline for immediate correction of hyponatremia, and this was then followed up with food supplementation with table salt, with good outcomes.