Chronic Acidosis of Renal Origin in Infancy

Two infants are described, both of whom had unexplained signs of anorexia, vomiting, dehydration, fever and acidosis. Both probably had defects in reabsorption of bicarbonate in the renal tubules without other evidence of anatomic renal disease. The symptoms of both infants were relieved by the administration of alkaline salts. One patient, after a year of therapy, recovered and has developed normally without further treatment. The other still requires alkaline salts to prevent the development of acidosis.