Severe thirst, what disease?

For nearly a year, a 38-year-old man in Hanoi was extremely thirsty, drinking more than 10 liters of water a day and urinating nearly 20 times, so he had to go to a medical facility for examination.

Drink more than 10 liters of water/day

Male patient L.D.N. (38 years old, Hanoi ) had to go to the doctor after nearly a year of continuous severe thirst, drinking over 10 liters of water every day but still not feeling enough. At the same time, the frequency of urination increased abnormally, 10 - 15 times/day; at night, about 2 hours had to wake up to urinate.

Pituitary insufficiency due to endocrine disruption, the cause of diabetes insipidus

PHOTO TL MEDLATEC

At Medlatec Tay Ho General Clinic, talking with the doctor, the patient said that he had had surgery for a craniopharyngioma in 2023. The doctor ordered the patient to perform some necessary paraclinical techniques to serve the diagnosis.

The results of examination and testing showed that the patient had post-operative pituitary insufficiency after craniopharyngioma surgery, which is a rare endocrine disorder. In particular, the blood sodium test results increased, showing increased blood osmotic pressure and decreased urine osmotic pressure. The patient was diagnosed with post-operative pituitary insufficiency after craniopharyngioma surgery by doctors, and was prescribed treatment and instructed by the doctor to change his living habits and diet.

After 2 weeks of treatment, the patient's thirst was reduced, he drank about 2.5 - 3 liters per day, and the amount of urine decreased to 2 - 3 liters per day (about 6 - 8 times per day). The patient is continuing to maintain the treatment regimen and return for check-ups as scheduled.

According to the treating doctor, Mr. N. had diabetes insipidus. The disease does not appear independently but is part of the complication of pituitary failure after craniopharyngioma surgery. When the pituitary gland is damaged, antidiuretic hormone (ADH) decreases, causing the body to not retain water, thereby causing constant thirst, frequent urination and dilute urine.

A normal person urinates on average about 1 - 2 liters of urine per day, while a person with diabetes insipidus can urinate up to 20 liters per day. If a person with diabetes insipidus does not drink enough to replace the amount of water lost through urine, they can become dehydrated, which is very dangerous for their health.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/khat-nuoc-du-doi-benh-gi-185251007102142396.htm