Hydrotoxaemia

Water Intoxication

Sērbaka physiology is fine tuned and well adapted to the arid climates found on Maka, requiring little direct water consumption; most fluid consumption comes from the foods they ingest

— Medica Scientifica journal

Hydrotoxaemia, a specific form of water intoxication unique to Sērbaka, is a potentially fatal blood imbalance caused by excessive water intake, an exceedingly rare condition under normal circumstances, however long bouts of intense exercise may accidentally lead to the condition if excessive fluids are consumed. Furthermore, a method of torture, where the victim is forced to consume excessive amounts of water, are intended to cause hydrotoxaemia, and associated symptoms.

Risk Factors

Low body mass (Infants): Children under 18 months of age can easily absorb too much water. Special caution should be exercised where very young children are concerned.

Overexertion and heat stress: During the hottest weather, in the most arid and inhospitable of locations, sometimes the thirst response can become hyper activated, promoting drinking large quantities of water, leading to hydrotoxaemia.

Psychiatric Conditions: A single known, and exceedingly rare psychosis compels an individual to drink large quantities of water, thus putting them at risk of hydrotoxaemia. This condition becomes especially dangerous if other psychosis is present (which is often the case), which may lead to misinterpretation of the underlying conditions causing hydrotoxaemia.

Symptoms

Hydrotoxaemia onset causes cells to swell, the swelling increases intracranial pressure, leading to several observable symptoms: headache, personality and behavioral changes, confusion, and suggestibility. Further symptoms include difficulty breathing, twitching or cramping, weakness and pain, nausea and vomiting, and blunted perception. As the condition persists, vital signs begin to fluctuate, the brain continues to swell, interrupting blood flow, resulting in cerebral edema. All of which is a kindness to the sufferer as without treatment, bloated cells clog the bronchi in airways, resulting in death by drowning in their own fluids.

Treatment

The best-known treatment for Hydrotoxaema is dialysis, but in emergency situations, diuretics may alleviate the most severe symptoms and prevent death.

Prevention

Hydrotoxaemia is preventable, simply by ensuring water intake does not grossly exceed water losses. Healthy Sērbaka process roughly 800 ml of fluid per hour, while excreting around 8 to 10 ml per hour.

Origin

Natural

Cycle

Short-term

Rarity

Extremely Rare

Affected Species

• Sērbaka