NICOLA BATES discusses the clinical effects and management of salt and sodium bicarbonate overdose in adults and children

Sodium chloride and sodium bicarbonate are widely used both pharmaceutical and in the home. Each can cause hyperna-traemia, defined as a sodium concentration greater than 150mmol/L, in overdose. Sodium bicarbonate can also cause other metabolic disturbances, particularly metabolic alkalosis. This article outlines the clinical features and management of sodium chloride and sodium bicarbonate overdose.