Did the ER doc tell you that this swelling is most likely caused by his elevated potassium levels? Of course not he just wanted you in and out of the ER.
Potassium is involved in regulating muscle tissue, and is part of digestion, metabolism, and homeostasis (maintaining a balance between the many electrical and chemical processes of the body). A condition called Hyperkalemia occurs when the level of potassium in the bloodstream is higher than normal. This may be related to an increase in total body potassium or the excess release of potassium from the cells into the bloodstream. Normally the kidneys remove excess potassium from the body, most cases of hyperkalemia are caused by disorders that reduce the kidneys' ability to excrete potassium. This could be being caused because of his prematurity, or his drug addiction in the womb and subsequent detox, blood work is not a completly effective way to evaluate kidney and liver function. For instance, as a resident, I was treating a patient who was in what I considered obvious kidney failure, but her standard kidney panels kept coming back normal, however, on a more specialized test it was shown her kidneys were working at less than 1/2 normal function.
Take him to his pediatrician as soon as they open again monday or tuesday, let them know he was seen in the ER over the weekend but that you are still concerned.
This answer was edited by Ruchele 316 days ago.
Reason: cause
