Dehydration Treatment Q&A

Becoming dehydrated can happen quickly and severely and occurs when you lose or use more fluid than you are drinking, and your body does not have enough water or other fluids to carry out normal bodily functions. If you cannot replace those lose fluids, you will become dehydrated quickly.

Many individuals become dehydrated, but the condition can be especially dangerous for young children as well as seniors.

One of the most common causes of dehydration in young children is severe diarrhea and vomiting. Older adults naturally have a lower volume of water in their bodies, and may already have conditions or take medications that can increase the risk of dehydration.

What does this mean for you? Any minor illnesses, such as infections affecting the lungs or bladder, can result in dehydration for many seniors.

Dehydration can also occur in anyone in any age group, especially if you are not drinking enough water and you are in a warmer or hotter climate – especially if you are participating in strenuous activities or exercise.

Dehydration can develop when your body starts to lose more fluid than you are able to intake or drink. Some common causes of dehydration include:

• Excessive sweating
• Vomiting
• Diarrhea

When you begin losing too many fluids from the body, your organs, cells and tissues will start to fail to function properly, which can lead to dangerous complications if not treated. Dehydration if not corrected immediately, can cause the body to go into shock.

Dehydration can be felt with signs that are from mild to severe, individuals can usually treat mild dehydration at home, but anything from moderate to severe dehydration will need immediate attention or emergency medical attention for treatment.

The signs and symptoms you may experience with dehydration are not always a reliable indicator of early onset of dehydration, however many adults and in particular seniors, do not feel thirsty until they are already dehydrated. That is why it is so important to continuously increase your water intake throughout the day and during warmer to hot climate or when you are feeling ill.

A few signs and symptoms of severe dehydration can be different with age, however the most common are:

Infant or young child

• Dry mouth and tongue
• No tears when crying
• No wet diapers for three hours
• Sunken eyes and cheeks
• Sunken soft spot-on top of the skull
• Listlessness or irritability

Adult

• Extreme thirst
• Less frequent need to urinate
• Dark-colored urine
• Tired
• Dizzy
• Confused

Dehydration usually occurs when the body does not have sufficient amount of water or fluids in it to properly function, as you are either losing the fluids too quickly or not taking in enough with the activities you are doing. Dehydration can easily occur on hot days when your body is producing more sweat than normal to stay cool, or when you are feeling ill and have symptoms like vomiting or diarrhea.

Mild to moderate dehydration in adults and should be taken seriously and seen by a medical professional at Rocky Mount Family Medical, some signs and symptoms of mild to moderate dehydration include:

• Feeling thirsty
• Dry and sticky mouth
• Dry skin
• Infrequent urination
• Dark yellow urine
• Headaches
• Muscle cramping

If you begin to show symptoms of severe dehydration, especially in babies, children or seniors, it is necessary for you to immediately get medical treatment from a nearby emergency room. Signs and symptoms of severe dehydration can include:

• No urination or extremely dark yellow pee
• Dry skin
• Dizziness
• Rapid beating heart or breathing
• Sunken eyes
• Feeling lethargic
• Tired confused or irritable
• Fainting

If you or someone you know is showing signs of dehydration, visit Rocky Mount Family Medical today. For more information, contact us or request an appointment! We are conveniently located at 804 English Road, Suite 100 Rocky Mount, NC 27804. We serve patients from Rocky Mount NC, Nashville NC, Westry NC, Dortches NC, Red Oak NC, and Sharpsburg NC.