Dehydration – Symptoms & Treatment

Your body becomes dehydrated because it lacks the water and other fluids it requires to function correctly when you use or lose more fluid than you take in. Insufficient replacement of lost fluids will result in dehydration. Dehydration may affect everyone, but it is particularly harmful to small children and elderly people. Dehydration in young children is most frequently that arises due to severe diarrhea and vomiting.

It is more likely to occur in older persons because they naturally have a lower water content in their bodies and may also be caused by medical problems or drugs. If you do not drink enough water in hot weather, especially if you are moving hard, dehydration can occur in people of any age. You may normally cure mild to moderate dehydration by drinking more fluids. But severe dehydration needs immediate medical assistance.

Symptoms of Dehydration

The body’s requirement for water is not always accurately indicated by thirst. Many individuals, especially older persons, do not experience thirst until they are already dehydrated. This is why it’s crucial to drink more water during hot weather or when you’re sick. Age-related differences in dehydration symptoms and indications are also possible.

Small Kids or Infant

• Dry tongue and mouth
• Absence of weeping tears
• For three hours, no wet diapers
• Reduced cheekbones and eyes
• Vacillation or irritability

Adult

• Severe thirst
• Reduced frequency of urination
• Urine with a deep color
• Fatigue
• Dizziness
• Confusion

Causes

Dehydration may occur for very simple causes. For instance, when you do not drink enough due to being ill or busy. Or when you’re traveling, trekking, or camping and do not have access to clean drinking water.

Other causes include:

Diarrhea, Vomiting

A significant loss of water and electrolytes can occur quickly as a result of severe, acute diarrhea that starts suddenly and violently. Having both diarrhea and vomiting causes you to lose a lot more fluids and minerals.

Fever

In general, the higher your temperature, the greater the risk of dehydration. If you have diarrhea, vomiting, and a fever, the condition gets worse.

Excessive Sweating

Sweating causes water loss. If you engage in strenuous exercise without restoring lost fluids, you risk becoming dehydrated. In hot, humid weather, both sweating and fluid loss speed up.

Increased Urination

This could be a result of undiagnosed or poorly managed diabetes. Dehydration is a side effect of various drugs, such as diuretics and some blood pressure medications, mostly because they make you pee more frequently.

Diagnosis

Dehydration is frequently diagnosed by your doctor based on physical symptoms and indicators. Dehydration can also lead to low blood pressure, an elevated heart rate, and decreased blood flow to the extremities. And low blood pressure while getting up from a reclining to a standing posture. You could undergo further tests, such as the following, to assist confirm the diagnosis and determine the level of dehydration:

Blood tests

A doctor may take blood samples for tests for a variety of things. This includes your electrolyte levels, particularly salt, and potassium, & how effectively your kidneys are functioning.

Urinalysis

Urine tests can help determine if and how much you are dehydrated. They might also search for signs of a bladder infection.

Is it Possible to Avoid Dehydration?

Yes, by monitoring your fluid intake, you may avoid dehydration.

• Throughout the day, including throughout meals, drink water.
• Steer clear of soda, alcohol, and coffee.
• Checking your pee is one approach to making sure you’re hydrated enough. It is OK if it is clear, light, or straw-colored. Continue drinking if it becomes darker than that.
• Active persons, such as those participating in sports or exercising, should consume at least 16 to 20 ounces of water one to two hours before an outside activity to prevent dehydration.
• After that, while you’re outside, you should drink six to 12 ounces of liquid every ten to fifteen minutes.
• You should rehydrate when you have done the activity. Drink at least another 16 to 24 ounces to make up for what you have lost.

Outlook

You may usually cure any moderate dehydration condition by consuming additional liquids. Dehydration in more severe or moderate instances may necessitate hospitalization for IV fluid therapy. Mild to moderate dehydration should disappear in less than a day if the underlying cause is addressed and the right number of fluids are consumed. If you have extreme dehydration, you should go to a hospital for treatment. It should go away with the right care in two to three days.