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Symptoms » Hypokalemia
 

Hypokalemia

Hypokalemia: Introduction

Hypokalemia: Abnormally low levels of potassium in the blood. See free access online books about Hypokalemia below. See detailed information below for a list of 143 causes of Hypokalemia, including diseases and drug side effect causes.

» Review Causes of Hypokalemia: full list

Causes of Hypokalemia:

The following medical conditions are some of the possible causes of Hypokalemia. There are likely to be other possible causes, so ask your doctor about your symptoms.

See full list of 143 causes of Hypokalemia

» Review Causes of Hypokalemia: full list

Hypokalemia: Symptom Checker

Listed below are some combinations of symptoms associated with Hypokalemia, as listed in our database. Visit the Symptom Checker, to add and remove symptoms and research your condition.

Symptom Checker

Symptom Checker

See full list of 1996 Symptom Checker combinations related to Hypokalemia

Hypokalemia Treatments

Review information on Hypokalemia Treatments.

Causes of Similar Symptoms to Hypokalemia

Research the causes of these symptoms that are similar to, or related to, the symptom Hypokalemia:

Diagnostic Guides for Hypokalemia

Medical Books Excerpts Read excertps from published book sections related to Hypokalemia from the following published medical books for more detailed information about Hypokalemia. Free access (no registration): read all online diagnostic book sections about Hypokalemia

Medical Books Excerpts
  • HYPOKALEMIA
  • "Algorithmic Diagnosis of Symptoms and Signs" (2003)
  • Hypokalemia
  • "The 10-Minute Diagnosis Manual: Symptoms and Signs in the Time-Limited Encounter" (2000)
 

Copyright notice for book excerpts: Copyright © 2008 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. All rights reserved.

Hypokalemia: Research Related Doctors & Specialists

Other ways to find a doctor, or use doctor, physician and specialist online research services:

Misdiagnosis and Hypokalemia

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Read more about Misdiagnosis and Hypokalemia

Diagnostic tests for Hypokalemia:

Various tests are used in the diagnosis of Hypokalemia. Some of these are listed below :

  • Blood tests
    • Full blood count
    • Electrolytes and kidney function tests
    • Sodium level. If sodium level is normal or increased consider hyperaldosteronism, Cushing's syndrome, periodic paralysis or IV fluid supplementation without supplemental potassium. If sodium level is decreased consider pyloric obstruction, diuretics, severe vomiting, diabetic acidosis, diarrhea, renal tubular acidosis, starvation and malabsorption syndrome
    • Plasma cortisol. If elevated suggests Cushing's syndrome
    • Bicarbonate level. If Bicarbonate level is increased, with a low sodium and low potassium consider pyloric obstruction, persistent vomiting and diuretic administration. If bicarbonate level is low, with a low sodium and low potassium consider diabetic acidosis, renal tubular acidosis, diarrhea, starvation, diuretic effects and malabsorption syndrome
  • more tests...»

See full list of 12 diagnostic tests for Hypokalemia

Diagnosis Checklist: Questions your doctor may ask (and why!)

During a consultation, your doctor will use various techniques in their assessment of Hypokalemia. Your doctor may ask several questions when assessing your condition. It is important to remember that your consultation is a two-way process and any extra information you can share with your doctor about your symptoms may help them with their diagnosis. Some of the questions your doctor may ask are listed below:

  • Symptoms of low potassium? - usually without symptoms but may have muscle weakness or heart palpitations.
  • Past medical history? - e.g. liver failure, heart failure, nephrotic syndrome and Conn's syndrome may all increase aldosterone secretion and thus cause low potassium; bulimia nervosa may cause low potassium due to self induced vomiting; renal tubular acidosis causes low potassium.
  • Past surgical history? - e.g. ileostomy causes increased gastrointestinal loss of potassium.
  • Medications? - e.g. diuretics (especially thiazide diuretics) are the commonest cause of low potassium; laxative abuse causes increased gastrointestinal loss of potassium; corticosteroids and carbenoxolone may also reduce potassium levels; cytotoxic treatment for cancer, amphotericin and aminoglycoside.
  • Dietary history? - e.g. licorice may reduce potassium; severe dietary deficiency may cause reduced potassium.
  • more questions...»

See Diagnosis Checklist for Hypokalemia (7 listings)

Diagnosis Checklist: Associated symptoms your doctor may ask about (and why!)

Sometimes, other symptoms may be present and may help your doctor analyse your condition. The symptoms your doctor may ask about (in association with Hypokalemia) may include:

See Diagnosis Checklist for Hypokalemia (7 listings)

Home Diagnostic Testing and Hypokalemia

Home medical tests possibly related to Hypokalemia:

Stories from Users for Hypokalemia

Real-life user stories relating to Hypokalemia:

Symptom specific forums: The following patient stories in our interactive forums and message boards relate to Hypokalemia or relevant symptoms:

Videos for Hypokalemia

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See full list of 4 related videos

Patient Surveys for Hypokalemia

Causes of Hypokalemia listed in Disease Database:

Other medical conditions listed in the Disease Database as possible causes of Hypokalemia as a symptom include:

See full list of 143 causes of Hypokalemia
- (Source - Diseases Database)

Medications or substances causing Hypokalemia:

The following drugs, medications, substances or toxins are some of the possible causes of Hypokalemia as a symptom. Always advise your doctor of any medications or treatments you are using, including prescription, over-the-counter, supplements, herbal or alternative treatments.

See full list of 49 medications causing Hypokalemia

Drug interactions causing Hypokalemia:

When combined, certain drugs, medications, substances or toxins may react causing Hypokalemia as a symptom. Always advise your doctor of any medications or treatments you are using, including prescription, over-the-counter, supplements, herbal or alternative treatments.

  • Celestone and diuretic interaction
  • Entocort EC and diuretic interaction
  • Cortone and diuretic interaction
  • Decadron and diuretic interaction
  • Dexameth and diuretic interaction
  • Dexone and diuretic interaction
  • Hexadrol and diuretic interaction
  • more interactions...»

See full list of 30 drug interactions causing Hypokalemia

Definitions of Hypokalemia:

Hypokalemia: The presence of an abnormally low concentration of potassium ions in the circulating blood; occurs in familial periodic paralysis and in potassium depletion due to excessive loss from the gastrointestinal tract or kidneys. The changes of hypokalemia may include vacuolation of renal tubular epithelial cytoplasm with impairment of urinary concentrating power and acidification, flattening of the T wave of the electrocardiogram, and muscle weakness. SYN: hypopotassemia. [hypo- + G. kalion L. kalium, potassium, + G. haima, blood]
Source: Stedman's Medical Spellchecker, © 2006 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. All rights reserved.

Hypokalemia; lower than normal levels of potassium in the circulating blood.
- (Source - Diseases Database)

Abnormally low level of potassium in the circulating blood leading to weakness and heart abnormalities; associated with adrenal tumors or starvation or taking diuretics
- (Source - WordNet 2.1)

Abnormally low potassium concentration in the blood; may result from excessive potassium loss by the renal or gastrointestinal route, from decreased intake, or from transcellular shifts; manifested clinically by neuromuscular disorders ranging from weakness to paralysis, by electrocardiographic abnormalities, and by renal and gastrointestinal disorders.
- (Source - CRISP)

Organs affected by Hypokalemia:

The list of organs typically affected by Hypokalemia may include, but is not limited to:

Detailed list of causes of Hypokalemia

The list below shows some of the causes of Hypokalemia mentioned in various sources:

See full list of 143 causes of Hypokalemia

How Common are these Causes of Hypokalemia?

This information refers to the general prevalence and incidence of these diseases, not to how likely they are to be the actual cause of Hypokalemia. Of the 143 causes of Hypokalemia that we have listed, we have the following prevalence/incidence information:

  • 4 causes are "very common" diseases
  • 4 causes are "common" diseases
  • 2 causes are "uncommon" diseases
  • 0 causes are "rare" diseases
  • 3 causes are "very rare" diseases
  • 139 causes have no prevalence information.

See the analysis of the prevalence of 143 causes of Hypokalemia

Conditions listing symptoms: Hypokalemia:

The following list of conditions have 'Hypokalemia' or similar listed as a symptom in our database. This computer-generated list may be inaccurate or incomplete. Always seek prompt professional medical advice about the cause of any symptom.

A

  • Acid-Base Imbalance ... hypokalemia
  • Ackee Fruit Food poisoning ... hypokalemia
  • Acute liver failure ... hypokalemia
  • Aloe poisoning ... hypokalemia
  • Apparent mineralocorticoid excess ... hypokalemia
  • Apparent Mineralocorticoid Excess, type 2 ... hypokalemia

    B

  • Beer-drinker syndrome ... hypokalemia
  • Bufotenine poisoning ... hypokalemia

    C

  • Chemical poisoning - Amitraz ... hypokalemia
  • Chemical poisoning - Ammonium Chloride ... hypokalemia
  • Chemical poisoning - Toluene ... hypokalemia
  • Cholera ... hypokalemia
  • Congenital adrenal hyperplasia due to 17-alpha-hydroxylase deficiency ... hypokalemia
  • Congenital chloride diarrhea ... hypokalemia
  • Corticosterone Methyloxidase type I Deficiency ... hypokalemia

    F

  • Fanconi renotubular syndrome ... hypokalemia
  • Fanconi syndrome ... hypokalemia
  • Fanconi's syndrome ... Hypokalemia
  • Functioning pancreatic endocrine tumor ... hypokalemia

    G

  • Gastro-enteropancreatic neuroendocrine tumor ... hypokalemia
  • Gitelman syndrome ... hypokalemia
  • Glucocorticoid resistance ... hypokalemia

    H

  • Herbal Agent overdose - Cleistanthus Collinus ... hypokalemia
  • Hereditary primary Fanconi disease ... hypokalemia
  • Hyperreninemic Hypoaldosteronism, Familial 2 ... hypokalemia
  • Hypoaldosteronism, familial ... hypokalemia
  • Hypokalemia ... low blood potassium
  • Hypokalemic periodic paralysis ... hypokalemia

    I

  • Iodine overuse ... hypokalemia

    L

  • Lightwood-Albright syndrome ... hypokalemia

    M

  • Mayapple poisoning ... hypokalemia

    P

  • Primary cortisol resistance ... hypokalemia

    R

  • Renal tubular acidosis progressive nerve deafness ... hypokalemia
  • Renal tubular acidosis, distal ... hypokalemia
  • Renal tubular acidosis, distal - type I ... hypokalemia
  • Renal tubular acidosis, distal - type III ... hypokalemia
  • Renal tubular acidosis, distal, autosomal dominant ... hypokalemia
  • Renal tubular acidosis, distal, autosomal recessive ... hypokalemia

    T

  • Toni-Fanconi syndrome type 1 ... hypokalemia

    V

  • Vipoma ... hypokalemia

    Conditions listing complications: Hypokalemia:

    The following list of conditions have 'Hypokalemia' or similar listed as a complication in our database. The distinction between a symptom and complication is not always clear, and conditions mentioning this symptom as a complication may also be relevant. This computer-generated list may be inaccurate or incomplete. Always seek prompt professional medical advice about the cause of any symptom.

    B

  • Bulimia nervosa ... low blood potassium

    C

  • Classic Distal Renal Tubular Acidosis ... hypokalemia

    E

  • Eating disorders ... low blood potassium

    F

  • Fanconi's syndrome ... Hypokalemia

    P

  • Primary Hyperaldosteronism ... hypokalemia (low blood potassium)
  • Proximal Renal Tubular Acidosis ... hypokalemia

    S

  • Sjogren's Syndrome ... hypokalemia (low potassium)

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  • Causes of Hypokalemia Based on Risk Factors

    This information shows analysis of the list of causes of Hypokalemia based on whether certain risk factors apply to the patient:

  • Travel - has the patient travelled recently?
  • Diabetes - history of diabetes or family history of diabetes?

    What are the alternative names for Hypokalemia:

    Potassium levels low (plasma or serum), Hypokalaemia
    - (Source - Diseases Database)

    Classifications of Hypokalemia:

    Symptoms related to Hypokalemia:

    Diarrhoea (1887 causes), Laxative use, Renal disease, Diuretics, Decreased dietary intake, Hyperaldosteronism, Cushings syndrome (4 causes)

    Medical articles on signs and symptoms:

    Doctor-patient articles related to symptoms and diagnosis:

    These general medical articles may be of interest:

    See full list of premium articles on symptoms and diagnosis

    News Archives for Hypokalemia

    Medical news articles related to Hypokalemia include:

    Source: HealthDay News

    Related medical articles from our Disease Center for Hypokalemia:

    More Ways To Research Medical Signs and Symptoms:


     » Next page: Causes of Hypokalemia

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