A 6-month-old client is admitted with acute viral gastroente…
A 6-month-old client is admitted with acute viral gastroenteritis and moderate dehydration after 24 hours of vomiting and diarrhea. The infant weighs 7 kg. The nurse reviews developmental physiology to anticipate fluid shifts and clinical deterioration. Which statement best explains why this infant is at greater risk for rapid fluid imbalance compared with an older child?