Hypotonic dehydration is characterized by which of the following?

Hypotonic dehydration occurs when water is lost from the body, leading to an imbalance in electrolytes, particularly sodium. In this condition, the loss of sodium is relatively greater than the loss of water. This results in a decrease in serum sodium concentration, causing the extracellular fluid to become diluted compared to the intracellular fluid.

When sodium loss exceeds water loss, the hydration status of the cells can lead to cellular swelling because water flows into the cells to try to balance the sodium concentration gradient. This situation highlights the importance of sodium in maintaining osmotic balance between different fluid compartments in the body. Understanding this mechanism is fundamental for recognizing fluid and electrolyte imbalances in geriatric patients, who may be at higher risk for such conditions due to various factors, including medication effects and chronic health issues.

The other options describe scenarios inconsistent with hypotonic dehydration, emphasizing the specific nature of sodium loss in this type of dehydration.