THIRST

Ask the Following Questions:

1. Is there a positive drug or alcohol history? Alcohol, amitriptyline, diuretics, and many other drugs may cause excessive thirst.
2. Is there fever? The presence of fever would make one suspect an infectious disease .
3. Is there pallor or shock? Pallor or shock should make one think of GI bleeding, ruptured ectopic pregnancy, trauma, and other disorders associated with anemia or shock.
4. Is there significant polyuria? Polyuria that is either significant or massive would suggest diabetes insipidus, diabetes mellitus, or thyrotoxicosis. Mild or insignificant polyuria may be due to hypercalcemia, hyperparathyroidism, and excessive salt intake.

DIAGNOSTIC WORKUP

Routine tests include a CBC, sedimentation rate, urinalysis, chemistry panel, thyroid panel, glucose tolerance test, blood alcohol level, and 24-hr urine collection for sodium, potassium, and calcium. If pituitary diabetes insipidus is suspected, a CT scan of the brain, the Hickey-Hare test, and a vasopressin (Pitressin®) injection test may need to be done. If hyperparathyroidism is suspected, a serum parathyroid hormone assay and x-rays of the skull and long bones may be done. A consultation with an endocrinologist may be necessary.

Book Source Details

• Book Title: Algorithmic Diagnosis of Symptoms and Signs
• Author(s): R. Douglas Collins
• Year of Publication: 2003
• Copyright Details: Algorithmic Diagnosis of Symptoms and Signs, Copyright © 2003 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.

Other Book Chapters Related to Thirst

Read excerpts from these other book chapters related to Thirst:

Copyright Details: Algorithmic Diagnosis of Symptoms and Signs, Copyright © 2008 Williams & Wilkins.

More About Causes of Thirst

• Back to symptom: Thirst: Introduction (review 140 causes)
• Next Book Extract About Thirst: Polydipsia (In A Page: Pediatric Signs and Symptoms)
• All Book Extracts: All Online Book Extracts for Thirst

More About This Book: Title: Algorithmic Diagnosis of Symptoms and Signs Authors: R. Douglas Collins Publisher: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins Copyright: 2003 ISBN: 0-7817-3805-9

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