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Unit assessment
Choose the most appropriate answers.
2. What are the causes of fluid retention in malnourished oedematous children?
a) Increased body weight in oedematous children is due to fluid retention.
b) Malfunctioning of sodium-potassium pump in cells.
c) Leakage of sodium into cells.
d) Leakage and loss of potassium and magnesium from cells and the body.
Please answer the question first.
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b), c) and d) are true. In malnourished children the pump (sodium-potassium pump), which controls movement of these elements
in and out of cells, does not function properly. There is therefore loss of potassium and magnesium from cells and the
body whilst sodium moves into the cells causing retention of body fluid. a) is incorrect as increased body weight is
a consequence of fluid retention, not a cause.
