Persistent vomiting is commonly associated with which electrolyte disturbance?

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Multiple Choice

Persistent vomiting is commonly associated with which electrolyte disturbance?

When vomiting persists, you lose gastric contents that contain hydrogen and chloride. This causes metabolic alkalosis and volume depletion. The body responds to low circulating volume by activating the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system, which increases renal potassium loss. The combination of gut potassium loss and aldosterone-driven renal losses makes hypokalemia the most characteristic electrolyte disturbance in this scenario. Hyponatremia can occur in some vomiting patterns if large volumes of hypotonic fluids are consumed, but the classic association with persistent vomiting is low potassium with metabolic alkalosis. Hyperkalemia and hypercalcemia are not typical findings in this context.

When vomiting persists, you lose gastric contents that contain hydrogen and chloride. This causes metabolic alkalosis and volume depletion. The body responds to low circulating volume by activating the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system, which increases renal potassium loss. The combination of gut potassium loss and aldosterone-driven renal losses makes hypokalemia the most characteristic electrolyte disturbance in this scenario.

Hyponatremia can occur in some vomiting patterns if large volumes of hypotonic fluids are consumed, but the classic association with persistent vomiting is low potassium with metabolic alkalosis. Hyperkalemia and hypercalcemia are not typical findings in this context.

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