Symptoms & Causes Of Dehydration

Dehydration is generally classified as the situation that arises as a result of loss of water in the body tissues.

Causes Of Dehydration

• Reduced water intake


• Excessive sweating


• Diarrhoea and vomiting

Types And Symptoms Of Dehydration

The most important symptom of dehydration is increased thirst. Depending upon other symptoms, a person can have mild, moderate, or severe dehydration.

Mild dehydration: Symptoms of this type of dehydration are increased thirst, a dry mouth, alertness or restlessness, a normal urine output.

Moderate dehydration: Symptoms of this type of dehydration are increased thirst, a dry mouth, drowsy or irritable, with or without a reduced urine output. The pulse may beat fast and breathing may be deep.

Severe dehydration: Symptoms of this type of dehydration are a dry mouth with cold and clammy limbs, lethargy, cramps and reduced urine output. The pulse beats fast and the breathing is feeble, deep and fast.

In case a person is diagnosed with moderate to severe dehydration then the skin is said to lose some of its elasticity.

Treatment

• Oral Rehydration Salts [ORS]


• Electrol,


• Peditral,


• Sunitral,


• Walyte.

These are all easily available in the market. Make sure that before using these you follow the instructions carefully.

Recommendations Of WHO

The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends the following concentration:
Boiled water 1000 ml
Sodium chloride 3.5 grams
Potassium chloride 1.5 grams
Sodium bicarbonate 2.5 grams
Glucose 20grams

If you are unable to get a market preparation then you can try this alternative:
1 glass boiled water + a pinch of salt + 1 teaspoon sugar
1 glass thin watery rice kanji + a pinch of salt

Children: 1 teaspoon per minute gives 200-300 ml water per hour
Adults: 750 -1000 ml per hour

Keep administering time to time till symptoms of dehydration disappear and your child passes plenty of urine. Do not worry about feeding the child excessive amounts, as the excess will be excreted via urine. Do not forget that adding sugar and glucose to the solution enhances the absorption of water and salts by the small intestine.

Importance Of Water And Electrolytes

It is a fact that the children have a larger part of their body mass made up of water as compared to the adults. The balance of water is maintained in the body by its intake and output. Intake of water means the water and beverages that you drink and the food you consume. On the other hand output is mostly through urine, faeces and perspiration.

Usually in a normal adult the daily urine output is about 1500 ml; the loss of water through perspiration is approximately 1000 ml, and loss of water through faeces is about 100 ml. There is more water loss in the days of dry summers whereas comparatively less in humid conditions.

Electrolytes are the ions that are present in the body fluids. They are an essential component of the human body and play a very significant role in all the functions of the body. Main electrolytes that are generally lost in dehydration are sodium, potassium, chlorides and bicarbonates.

Remember

• Water and electrolyte loss is an insidious happening.


• A person suffering from it may appear normal.


• Start the treatment ASAP.


• Vomiting can occur due to the imbalances of the body fluids.


• Vomiting and diarrhoea may continue even after oral dehydration.


• The body takes some time to correct itself before they stop.


• There is net absorption of water and salts.


• Do not substitute this remedy for soft drinks, or limejuice.


• ORS is the treatment.


• Only in cases of severe dehydration does one need intravenous fluids.