RESUMO
Total body water has been studied in 24 malnourished infants by the method of isotope dilution, using tritium administered parenterally as tritiated water: urinary activity has been measured in a gas flow counter designed for accurate measurement of low energy radiation. The results show:- 1.A great increase in proportion of water in the malnourished child as compared with normal: average 84.5 percent of body weight on admission and 62.6 percent on recovery (the normal TBW percent body weight varies slightly with age but is approximately 60 percent). 2.A gross depletion of body solids. On admission the average body solids were only 29 percent (range 11- 70 percent) of normal age. The results are consistent with nitrogen balance data (AU)
