endocrine and metabolic disorders
Metabolic Acidosis
Symptoms and Signs of Metabolic Acidosis
Symptoms and signs (see table) are primarily those of the cause. Mild acidemia is itself asymptomatic. More severe acidemia (pH<7.10) may cause nausea, vomiting, and malaise. Symptoms may occur at higher pH if acidosis develops rapidly. The most characteristic sign is hyperpnea (long, deep breaths at a normal rate), reflecting a compensatory increase in alveolar ventilation; this hyperpnea is not accompanied by a feeling of dyspnea. The hyperpnea triggered by metabolic acidosis does not cause a sensation of dyspnea. Severe, acute acidemia predisposes to cardiac dysfunction with hypotension and Shock , 