Which of the following clinical findings is expected when assessing an 8-month-old patient who has severe hypernatremic dehydration?

Rationale: A. In severe hypernatremic dehydration, an infant typically presents with tachycardia, decreased urine output, poor skin turgor, and lethargy. Hypernatremia leads to intracellular dehydration, causing compensatory cardiovascular responses such as tachycardia. B. Bulging anterior fontanel is more suggestive of increased intracranial pressure, not routine hypernatremic dehydration. Weight loss may be present but is nonspecific. C. A sodium level of 140 mEq/L is normal, not indicative of hypernatremia. Parched mucous membranes may occur in dehydration, but hypernatremic dehydration usually presents with sodium >150 mEq/L. D. Potassium of 5.2 is mildly elevated but bradycardia is not typical; tachycardia is the expected cardiovascular response in hypernatremic dehydration.