Dehydration

Dehydration - a condition that occurs when the body does not have enough fluids and electrolytes to maintain many of its proper functions. Dehydration is particularly dangerous in children and in older adults.

Diarrhea can be a common cause of dehydration because it contains lots of fluids and nutrients that passed through the digestive tract too fast and have not been absorbed by the body. Symptoms of dehydration are:

• Dark-colored urine
• Thirst
• Less-frequent urination
• Irritability
• Fatigue
• Dry skin
• Dry mouth
• Light-headedness
• Muscle cramps
• Nausea and vomiting
• Constipation after the diarrhea
• Heart palpitations

Preventing Dehydration

The fluid and electrolytes lost during diarrhea need to be replaced promptly because the body cannot function without them. Drinking water is the single best way to prevent dehydration, but it does not contain electrolytes. For salts:

• Broth soups
• Pickled and canned foods

For sugars and potassium

• Fruit juices
• Fruits
• Vegetables
• Sugar candy (reasonable amounts)

Electrolyte supplements not found in foods are less recommended, but may help some people:

• Pedialyte
• Ceralyte
• Infalyte

Dehydration Danger Zone

If the amount of fluid in the intravascular space is decreased, the body has to increase the heart rate, which causes blood vessels to constrict to maintain blood pressure. This coping mechanism begins to fail as the level of dehydration increases. Pulse rate may increase and the blood pressure may drop because the intravascular space is depleted of water.

• Extra heat conditions
• Periods of increased exercise
• Age: older adults and children are more at risk
• When you've not been eating too many fruits and vegetables
• If you have conditions causing you to have extra urination or diarrhea
• If you have diabetes
• If you have experienced burns on your body
• If you are unable to drink druids due to some condition

Diagnosis of dehydration

Initial evaluations for severity of dehydration:

• Is the person awake, alert, and oriented?
• Vital signs: blood pressure, pulse rate
• Temperature measured to assess fever
• Skin checked to see if sweat is present and to assess skin elasticity

Children may be checked for extra symptoms:

• Checking for a soft spot on the skull (sunken fontanelle)
• Assessing the suck mechanism
• Muscle tone
• Loss of sweat in the armpits and groin

Laboratory testing:

• Blood tests is to assess potential electrolyte abnormalities (especially sodium levels) associated with the dehydration
• Urinalysis may be done to determine urine concentration - the more concentrated the urine, the more dehydrated the patient

Dehydration Complications

• Kidney Failure
• Heart-Related Illness
• Electrolyte abnormalities
• Coma
• Shock
• Digestive problems