Polydipsia
Polydipsia is excessive thirst or excess drinking. The word derives from the Greek πολυδίψιος (poludípsios) "very thirsty", which is gotten from πολύς (polús, "much, many") + δίψα (dípsa, "thirst"). Polydipsia is a symptom in many diseases. It also occurs as an abnormal behaviour in some animals, such as in birds.[1]
Causes
[change | change source]Diabetes
[change | change source]Polydipsia can be a symptom of diabetes mellitus. It is seen in cases of poorly controlled diabetes. Diabetes insipidus can also cause polydipsia.[1]
Other physiological causes
[change | change source]It can also be caused by a change in the osmolality of the extracellular fluids of the body, hypokalemia, decreased blood volume, and other conditions that create water deficiency.[1]
Diagnosis
[change | change source]Polydipsia is a symptom and not a disease in itself. Polydipsia investigations at diagnosing diabetes insipidus and diabetes mellitus can be useful.[1]
References
[change | change source]- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Hamm, Robert J.; Porter, Joseph H.; Kaempf, George L. (1981). "Stimulus Generalization of Schedule-Induced Polydipsia". Journal of the Experimental Analysis of Behavior. 36 (1): 93–99. doi:10.1901/jeab.1981.36-93. PMC 1333055. PMID 16812235.[permanent dead link]
