Potassium is a mineral that plays an important role in your baby's health. Potassium is essential for controlling urine output and regulating the acid-base balance. It is found in many foods, including vegetables and fruits such as spinach, broccoli, tomatoes, bananas, raisins and apricots. It is also found in such fish as flounder, salmon and cod, as well as in whole grains and nuts. Potassium has been used in some situations to treat colic or allergies in infants, and potassium supplements may be given to some babies suffering from diarrhea, according to the Periodic Paralysis News Desk.
Normal Values
According to Medline Plus, normal body levels of potassium are between 3.7 and 5.2 milliequivalents per liter. If your baby is not getting enough potassium, your doctor might recommend that you give her supplements to uphold her vitamin intake. The recommended daily intake for infants from newborn to 6 months is 500mg a day. Infants from 7 to 12 months should have 700mg of potassium a day.
Hypokalemia
A low level of potassium in a baby's blood is known as hypokalemia. Your baby may lose potassium through diarrhea or vomiting. Some signs of hypokalemia to watch for in your baby include an irregular heartbeat, muscle weakness, irritability and extreme thirst. According to the Penn State Medical Center, infants who suffer from hypokalemia due to ongoing vomiting or diarrhea may suffer from cardiac arrest if the condition is left untreated.
Hyperkalemia
Hyperkalemia occurs when blood levels of potassium are higher than normal. If your baby is suffering from hyperkalemia, he may have an irregular heartbeat; a slow, weak heartbeat; or nausea and vomiting. Hyperkalemia is frequently the result of kidney problems, as the kidneys act as a filter to remove a buildup of substances in the body. Hyperkalemia may also occur because of serious burns or in situations that cause gastrointestinal bleeding.
Testing
You can have your baby's potassium levels checked through blood samples. This may be done by using a lancet to prick the heel and squeezing out a small amount of blood. This method samples blood from the small capillaries found on the baby's foot near the skin surface. A venous sample of blood may also be collected, which can be drawn from the inner aspect of a baby's elbow. After cleansing the area with antiseptic, a needle is inserted into the vein and blood is collected into a tube for analysis, according to the Periodic Paralysis News Desk.
Interactions
If your baby is already ill and is taking medications during potassium testing, some types of medications may interfere with the results. Examples of these are some heart medicines, such as ACE inhibitors; or antibiotics, such as penicillin G, carbenicillin or amphotericin B.
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