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Nausea, vomiting, and lethargy can indicate which fluid and electrolyte imbalance caused by excess free water?

Hypernatremia

Hypokalemia

Dilutional hyponatremia

Nausea, vomiting, and lethargy are clinical manifestations commonly associated with dilutional hyponatremia, which occurs when there is an excess of free water relative to sodium in the body. In this condition, the excess water leads to a decrease in serum sodium concentration, resulting in the body's cells swelling due to osmotic imbalances. This alteration in sodium levels can trigger neurological symptoms, such as nausea and lethargy, as the brain is particularly sensitive to changes in sodium concentration.

The pathophysiology of dilutional hyponatremia is often seen in scenarios where fluid intake significantly exceeds fluid output, such as in certain medical conditions or when excessive amounts of hypotonic fluids are administered. The resulting low sodium levels can lead to severe complications if not identified and corrected promptly.

Understanding these symptoms is critical for clinical practice, as timely recognition and management of dilutional hyponatremia can prevent more severe outcomes, such as seizures or coma. This makes dilutional hyponatremia the most relevant diagnosis among the provided options when considering a situation pertaining to excess free water leading to such symptoms.

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Hypervolemia

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