Dehydration

Definition

Dehydration means your body does not have as much water and fluids as it should. Dehydration can be caused by losing too much fluid, not drinking enough water or fluids, or both. Vomiting and diarrhea are common causes.

Infants and children are more susceptible to dehydration than adults because of their smaller body weights and higher turnover of water and electrolytes. The elderly and those with illnesses are also at higher risk.

Dehydration is classified as mild, moderate, or severe based on how much of the body's fluid is lost or not replenished. When severe, dehydration is a life-threatening emergency.

Causes, incidence, and risk factors

Your body may lose too much fluids from:

• Vomiting or diarrhea
• Excessive urine output, such as with uncontrolled diabetes or diuretic use
• Excessive sweating (for example, from exercise)
• Fever

• Nausea
• Loss of appetite due to illness
• Sore throat or mouth sores

Dehydration in sick children is often a combination of both -- refusing to eat or drink anything while also losing fluid from vomiting, diarrhea, or fever.

Symptoms

• Dry or sticky mouth
• Low or no urine output; concentrated urine appears dark yellow
• Not producing tears
• Sunken eyes
• Markedly sunken fontanelles (the soft spot on the top of the head) in an infant
• Lethargic or comatose (with severe dehydration)

Signs and tests

A physical examination may also show signs of:

• Low blood pressure
• Blood pressure that drops when you go from lying down to standing
• Rapid heart rate
• Poor skin turgor -- the skin may lack its normal elasticity and sag back into position slowly when pinched up into a fold by the doctor; normally, skin springs right back into position
• Delayed capillary refill
• Shock

• Blood chemistries (to check electrolytes, especially sodium, potassium, and bicarbonate levels)
• Urine specific gravity (a high specific gravity indicates significant dehydration)
• BUN (blood urea nitrogen -- may be elevated with dehydration)
• Creatinine (may be elevated with dehydration)
• Complete Blood Count (CBC) to look for signs of concentrated blood

Treatment

Drinking fluids is usually sufficient for mild dehydration. It is better to have frequent, small amounts of fluid (using a teaspoon or syringe for an infant or child) rather than trying to force large amounts of fluid at one time. Drinking too much fluid at once can bring on more vomiting.

Electrolyte solutions or freezer pops are especially effective. These are available at pharmacies. Sport drinks contain a lot of sugar and can cause or worsen diarrhea. In infants and children, avoid using water as the primary replacement fluid.

Intravenous fluids and hospitalization may be necessary for moderate to severe dehydration. The doctor will try to identify and then treat the cause of the dehydration.

Most cases of stomach viruses (also called viral gastroenteritis) tend to resolve on their own after a few days. See diarrhea.

Expectations (prognosis)

When dehydration is recognized and treated promptly, the outcome is generally good.

Complications

Untreated severe dehydration may result in seizures, permanent brain damage, or death.

Calling your health care provider

Call 911 if you or your child:

• Feels dizzy or lightheaded.
• Is lethargic or confused.

Call your doctor right away if you or your child has any of the following symptoms:

• Not producing tears.
• Sunken eyes.
• Little or no urine output for 8 hours.
• Dry skin that sags back into position slowly when pinched up into a fold.
• Dry mouth or dry eyes.
• Sunken soft-spot on the top of your infant's head.
• Fast-beating heart.
• Blood in the stool or vomit.
• Your infant is less than 2 months and has diarrhea or vomiting.

• An illness is combined with the inability to keep down any fluids.
• Vomiting has been going on for longer than 24 hours in an adult or longer than 12 hours in a child.
• Diarrhea has lasted longer than 5 days in an adult or child.
• Your infant or child is much less active than usual or is irritable.
• You or your child have excessive urination, especially if there is a family history of diabetes or you are taking diuretics.

Prevention

Even when healthy, drink plenty of fluid every day. Drink more when the weather is hot or you are exercising.

Carefully monitor someone who is ill, especially an infant, child, or older adult. If you believe that dehydration is developing, consult a doctor before the person becomes moderately or severely dehydrated. Begin fluid replacement as soon as vomiting and diarrhea start -- DO NOT wait for signs of dehydration.

Always encourage the person to drink during an illness, and remember that a person's fluid needs are greater when that person has fever, vomiting, or diarrhea. The easiest signs to monitor are urine output (there should be frequent wet diapers or trips to the bathroom), saliva in the mouth, and tears when crying.

References

Porter SC. The value of parental report for diagnosis and management of dehydration in the emergency department. Ann Emerg Med. 2003; 41(2): 196-205.

Guerrant RL. Practice guidelines for the management of infectious diarrhea. Clin Infec Dis. 2001; 32(3): 331-351.

Committee on Sports Medicine and Fitness. American Academy of Pediatrics. Climatic heat stress and the exercising child and adolescent. Pediatrics. 2000; 106(1 Pt 1): 158-159.

Illustrations

Skin turgor

Page Content:

dehydration; symptom of dehydration; sign of dehydration; sign and symptom of dehydration; cause of dehydration; dehydration treatment; effects of dehydration; dehydration in child; dehydration synthesis; food dehydration; severe dehydration; alcohol dehydration; dehydration pregnancy; dehydration in the elderly; infant dehydration; dehydration in dog; baby dehydration; dehydration headache; dehydration in infant; dog dehydration; dehydration elderly; child dehydration; clinical sign of dehydration; sign of dehydration in child; chronic dehydration; dehydration in pregnancy; cat dehydration; caffeine and dehydration; dehydration during pregnancy; kidney dehydration; cure for dehydration; adult dehydration; dehydration death; dehydration in toddler; preventing dehydration; symptom of severe dehydration; condition dehydration more symptom; dehydration in cat; pathophysiology of dehydration; dehydration freezing; toddler dehydration; symptom of dehydration in child; disc dehydration; home remedy dehydration; diarrhea dehydration; dehydration blood pressure; effects of dehydration on the body; dehydration and diabetes; mild dehydration; dehydration prevention; death by dehydration; danger of dehydration; body dehydration; dehydration side effects; dehydration in baby; dehydration in senior; dehydration reaction; dehydration picture; feline dehydration; water dehydration; dehydration symptom chills; dehydration of cyclohexanol; dehydration depression; ethanol dehydration; dehydration in adult; glycol dehydration; gas dehydration; blood dehydration low pressure; dehydration and leg cramp; dehydration vomiting; dehydration and fever; how to prevent dehydration; dehydration and drinking water; sign of infant dehydration; treating dehydration; definition of dehydration synthesis; sign of dehydration in infant; skin dehydration; dehydration and electrolyte; how to treat dehydration; remedy dehydration; dehydration running; first aid for dehydration; symptom of dehydration in dog; dehydration and high blood pressure; article about dehydration; coffee and dehydration; dehydration dizziness; dehydration system; dehydration symptom for adult; human dehydration; sign of dehydration in toddler; dehydration newborn; dehydration fact; define dehydration; fatigue dehydration; lab values dehydration; puppy dehydration; alfalfa dehydration; severe dehydration in dog