Dehydration occurs when your body loses too much fluid. This can
happen when you stop drinking water or lose large amounts of fluid through
diarrhea, vomiting, sweating, or
exercise. Not drinking enough fluids can cause muscle
cramps. You may feel faint. Usually your body can reabsorb fluid from your
blood and other body tissues. But by the time you become
severely dehydrated, you no longer have enough fluid
in your body to get blood to your organs, and you may go into
shock, which is a life-threatening condition.
Dehydration can occur in anyone of any age, but it is most
dangerous for babies, small children, and older adults.
Dehydration in babies and small children
Babies and small children have an increased chance of becoming
dehydrated because:
A greater portion of their bodies is made of
water.
Children have a high
metabolic rate, so their bodies use more
water.
A child's kidneys do not conserve water as well as an
adult's kidneys.
A child's natural defense system that helps fight
infection (immune system) is not fully developed, which increases
the chance of getting an illness that causes vomiting and
diarrhea.
Children often will not drink or eat when they are not
feeling well.
They depend on their caregivers to provide them with
food and fluids.
Dehydration in older adults
Older adults have an increased chance of becoming dehydrated
because they may:
Not drink because they do not feel as thirsty
as younger people.
Have kidneys that do not work
well.
Choose not to drink because of the inability to control their
bladders (incontinence).
Have physical problems or a
disease which makes it:
Hard to drink or hold a
glass.
Painful to get up from a chair.
Painful or
exhausting to go to the bathroom.
Difficult to talk or communicate
to someone about their symptoms.
Not
have enough money to adequately feed themselves.
Watch babies, small children, and older adults closely for the
early symptoms of dehydration any time they have illnesses that cause high
fever, vomiting, or diarrhea. The early symptoms of dehydration are:
A dry mouth and sticky
saliva.
Reduced urine output with dark yellow
urine.
Acting listless or easily irritated.
Review the Emergencies and Check Your Symptoms sections to
determine if and when you need to see a doctor.
If you answer yes to any of the following questions, click on the "Yes" in front of the question for information about how soon to see a health professional.
Review
health risks that may increase the seriousness of your
symptoms.
Do you think that your dehydration is caused by a
medicine?
Note:
Call the doctor who prescribed the
medicine to find out if you should stop taking the medicine or take a different
one. An appointment may not be necessary.
If you are taking a
nonprescription medicine, stop taking the medicine. Call your doctor if you
feel you need to continue taking the medicine.
If you have answered "No" to the above questions, go back to Check Your Symptoms and continue to answer the questions to evaluate your symptoms.
If you answer yes to any of the following questions, click on the "Yes" in front of the question for information about how soon to see a health professional.
Review
health risks that may increase the seriousness of your
symptoms.
Do you think that your dehydration is caused by a
medicine?
Note:
Call the doctor who prescribed the
medicine to find out if you should stop taking the medicine or take a different
one. An appointment may not be necessary.
If you are taking a
nonprescription medicine, stop taking the medicine. Call your doctor if you
feel you need to continue taking the medicine.
If you have answered "No" to the above questions, go back to Check Your Symptoms and continue to answer the questions to evaluate your symptoms.
If a visit to a health professional is not needed immediately, see the Home Treatment section for self-care information.
Home Treatment
In the early stages, you may be able to correct
mild to moderate dehydration with home treatment
measures. It is important to control fluid losses and replace lost
fluids.
Adults and children age 12 and older
If you become mildly to moderately dehydrated while working
outside or exercising:
Stop your activity and rest.
Get
out of direct sunlight and lie down in a cool spot, such as in the shade or an
air-conditioned area.
Prop up your feet.
Take off any
extra clothes.
Drink a rehydration drink, water, juice, or sports
drink to replace fluids and minerals. Drink
2 qt (2 L) of cool liquids over
the next 2 to 4 hours. You should drink at least 10 glasses of liquid a day to
replace lost fluids. You can make an inexpensive rehydration drink at home. But
do not give this homemade drink to children younger than 12. Measure all ingredients precisely. Small variations can make the
drink less effective or even harmful. Mix the following:
1 quart (950 ml) water
½
teaspoon (2.5 g) baking soda
½ teaspoon (2.5 g) table salt, or ¼
teaspoon (1.25 g) salt substitute (such as "Lite Salt," which is
potassium-based)
3 to 4 tablespoons (45 to 60 g) sugar
Rest and take it easy for 24 hours, and continue to drink a lot
of fluids. Although you will probably start feeling better within just a few
hours, it may take as long as a day and a half to completely replace the fluid
that you lost.
Children ages 1 through 11
Make sure your child is drinking often.
Frequent, small amounts work best.
For children with dehydration,
an oral rehydration solution (ORS), half-strength orange
juice, or plain water (if the child is eating food) may be used to replace lost
fluids.
Allow your child to drink as much fluid as he or she wants.
Encourage your child to
drink extra fluids or suck on Popsicles. Children
between the ages of 4 and 10 should drink at least 6 to 10 glasses of liquids
to replace lost fluids.
Cereal mixed with milk or water may also be
used to replace lost fluids.
Newborns and babies younger than 1 year of age
Don't wait until
dehydration develops to replace lost fluids. Offer
fluids to your baby often.
If you breast-feed your baby, nurse him or
her more often.
If you use a bottle to feed your baby, feed him or
her more often.
Use an
oral rehydration solution (ORS) if mild or moderate dehydration develops. The
amount of ORS your baby needs depends on his or her weight and how dehydrated
he or she is. You can give the ORS in a dropper, spoon, or
bottle.
If your baby has started eating cereal, you may replace
lost fluids with cereal. You also may feed your baby strained bananas and
mashed potatoes if your child has had these foods before.
Symptoms to Watch For During Home Treatment
Use the Check Your Symptoms section to evaluate the symptoms if
any of the following occur during home treatment:
You become dizzy, lightheaded, or feel like you might
faint when you rise from lying to sitting, or from sitting to
standing.
Decreased urination develops.
Symptoms become
more severe or frequent.
Prevention
The following tips may help you prevent dehydration.
Prompt home treatment for illnesses that cause
diarrhea, vomiting, or fever will help prevent dehydration. Review the home
treatment recommendations for other symptoms you may have. Go to the following
topics:
To prevent dehydration during hot weather and
exercise, drink 8 to 10 glasses of fluids, such as water or
rehydration drinks each day.
Drink extra water before, during, and after
exercise.
Take a container of water or
sports drink with you when you exercise, and try to drink at least every 15 to
20 minutes.
Use a sports drink if you will be exercising for longer
than 1 hour.
Encourage your child to
drink extra fluids or suck on Popsicles. Children
between the ages of 4 and 10 should drink at least 6 to 10 glasses of liquids
to replace lost fluids.
Do not drink coffee, colas, or other drinks
that contain caffeine. They increase urine output and make you dehydrate
faster.
Avoid high-protein diets. If you are on a high-protein
diet, make sure that you drink at least 8 to 12 glasses of water each
day.
Do not drink alcohol, including beer and wine. They increase
dehydration and make it difficult to make good decisions.
Do not
take salt tablets. Most people get plenty of salt in their diets. Use a sports
drink if you are worried about replacing minerals lost through
sweating.
Stop working outdoors or exercising if you feel dizzy,
lightheaded, or very tired.
Wear one layer of lightweight,
light-colored clothing when you are working or exercising outdoors. Change into
dry clothing as soon as you can if your clothes get soaked with sweat.
Never exercise in a rubber suit.
You can help your doctor diagnose and treat your condition by being
prepared to answer the following questions:
When did the dehydration problem
start?
What activities cause you to feel
dehydrated?
Have you had a hard time getting enough fluids or
holding down fluids because of vomiting, diarrhea, or fever?
If
vomiting or diarrhea are causing your dehydration, how many episodes have you
had in the last 24 hours? When was the last episode of vomiting or
diarrhea?
Has nausea kept you from taking in enough
fluids?
What prescription and nonprescription medicines do you
take?
Have you been using water pills (diuretics) or
laxatives?
What have you tried so far to help you
rehydrate?
What activities related to sports or work make your
symptoms better or worse?
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