How is dehydration diagnosed. What are the most effective treatments for dehydration. How can you prevent dehydration from occurring. What are the symptoms of severe dehydration that require immediate medical attention. How do oral rehydration solutions work to combat dehydration.

Understanding Dehydration: Causes and Symptoms

Dehydration occurs when your body loses more fluids than it takes in, disrupting the normal balance of water and electrolytes in your system. This condition can range from mild to severe and affects people of all ages. Common causes include excessive sweating, diarrhea, vomiting, and inadequate fluid intake.

Recognizing the symptoms of dehydration is crucial for prompt treatment. Early signs may include:

• Thirst
• Dry mouth and lips
• Reduced urine output
• Dark-colored urine
• Fatigue
• Dizziness

As dehydration progresses, symptoms can become more severe, potentially leading to complications if left untreated.

Diagnosing Dehydration: Medical Assessments and Tests

Diagnosing dehydration often begins with a physical examination and assessment of symptoms. Healthcare providers look for specific signs that indicate fluid loss, such as:

• Low blood pressure, especially when moving from lying to standing
• Increased heart rate
• Reduced blood flow to extremities
• Dry skin with poor elasticity
• Sunken eyes

To confirm the diagnosis and determine the severity of dehydration, doctors may order additional tests:

Blood Tests

Blood samples can provide valuable information about electrolyte levels, particularly sodium and potassium. These tests also assess kidney function, which can be affected by dehydration.

Urinalysis

Examining urine can help determine the degree of dehydration and check for signs of bladder infection. Concentrated, dark urine is often an indicator of dehydration.

In some cases, additional tests may be necessary to identify underlying causes or complications associated with dehydration.

Effective Treatment Strategies for Dehydration

The primary goal in treating dehydration is to replenish lost fluids and electrolytes. The approach varies depending on the individual’s age, the severity of dehydration, and its underlying cause.

Treating Mild to Moderate Dehydration

For most adults with mild to moderate dehydration, increasing fluid intake is often sufficient. Water is typically the best choice, but other liquids can also be beneficial. However, it’s important to note that full-strength fruit juices and soft drinks may worsen diarrhea and should be avoided or diluted.

For those engaged in strenuous outdoor activities or exercise, especially in hot or humid conditions, cool water remains the optimal choice. Sports drinks containing electrolytes and carbohydrates can also be helpful in these situations.

Rehydration for Infants and Children

When infants and children become dehydrated due to diarrhea, vomiting, or fever, oral rehydration solutions (ORS) are recommended. These specially formulated solutions contain the right balance of water and salts to replenish both fluids and electrolytes effectively.

Administration of ORS should begin with small amounts:

• Start with about a teaspoon (5 milliliters) every one to five minutes
• Gradually increase the amount as tolerated
• For very young children, using a syringe may make administration easier

Older children can benefit from diluted sports drinks, mixing 1 part sports drink with 1 part water.

Treating Severe Dehydration

Severe dehydration requires immediate medical attention and should be treated in a hospital setting. In these cases, intravenous (IV) fluids are typically administered to quickly replenish fluids and electrolytes.

Preventing Dehydration: Proactive Measures

Preventing dehydration is often easier than treating it. Here are some effective strategies to maintain proper hydration:

1. Drink plenty of fluids throughout the day, not just when you feel thirsty
2. Increase fluid intake during hot weather or when engaging in physical activity
3. Consume water-rich foods like fruits and vegetables
4. Monitor urine color – pale yellow indicates good hydration
5. Avoid excessive alcohol consumption, which can lead to dehydration
6. Replace fluids lost through sweating, diarrhea, or vomiting promptly

By incorporating these habits into your daily routine, you can significantly reduce the risk of becoming dehydrated.

When to Seek Medical Attention for Dehydration

While mild dehydration can often be treated at home, certain symptoms indicate a need for immediate medical care. These include:

• Extreme thirst
• Confusion or altered mental state
• Severe dizziness or lightheadedness
• Lack of urination for 12 hours or more
• Rapid heartbeat
• Sunken eyes
• Fainting

If you or someone you’re caring for experiences these symptoms, seek emergency medical attention promptly.

Special Considerations for Different Age Groups

Dehydration affects different age groups in unique ways, requiring tailored approaches to prevention and treatment.

Infants and Young Children

Infants and young children are particularly susceptible to dehydration due to their smaller body size and higher metabolic rates. They may not be able to communicate their thirst effectively, making it crucial for caregivers to be vigilant.

Signs of dehydration in infants and young children include:

• Dry mouth and tongue
• No tears when crying
• Sunken eyes or fontanelle (soft spot on the head)
• Fewer wet diapers than usual
• Listlessness or irritability

Oral rehydration solutions are particularly important for this age group, as they help restore both fluids and essential electrolytes.

Older Adults

Older adults are also at increased risk of dehydration due to several factors:

• Decreased thirst sensation
• Reduced kidney function
• Medications that may increase fluid loss
• Mobility issues that may limit access to fluids

For seniors, it’s important to maintain a regular fluid intake schedule, even when not feeling thirsty. Caregivers should encourage and assist with fluid consumption throughout the day.

The Role of Electrolytes in Hydration

Electrolytes play a crucial role in maintaining proper hydration and bodily functions. These charged minerals, including sodium, potassium, calcium, and magnesium, help regulate nerve and muscle function, hydrate the body, balance blood acidity and pressure, and aid in tissue repair.

During dehydration, electrolyte imbalances can occur, leading to various symptoms and complications. This is why rehydration solutions often contain a carefully balanced mix of electrolytes along with water.

Key Electrolytes and Their Functions

• Sodium: Helps regulate blood pressure and supports nerve and muscle function
• Potassium: Essential for heart function and muscle contraction
• Calcium: Important for bone health, muscle function, and blood clotting
• Magnesium: Supports muscle and nerve function, and energy production

When treating dehydration, especially in cases of severe fluid loss due to diarrhea or vomiting, it’s crucial to replenish both water and electrolytes to restore proper balance in the body.

Hydration for Athletes and Active Individuals

Athletes and those engaging in regular physical activity have unique hydration needs. Intense exercise, particularly in hot and humid conditions, can lead to significant fluid loss through sweat, increasing the risk of dehydration.

Pre-hydration Strategies

Proper hydration begins before exercise. Athletes should:

• Drink 16-20 ounces of water 2-3 hours before exercise
• Consume an additional 8 ounces 20-30 minutes before activity
• Consider electrolyte-rich beverages for longer or more intense workouts

During Exercise

Fluid intake during exercise should be tailored to individual needs, considering factors such as exercise intensity, duration, and environmental conditions. General guidelines include:

• Drink 7-10 ounces of fluid every 10-20 minutes during exercise
• For workouts lasting over an hour, consider sports drinks to replenish electrolytes
• Pay attention to thirst cues, but don’t rely solely on them

Post-exercise Rehydration

After exercise, it’s important to replace fluids lost through sweat. A good rule of thumb is to drink 16-24 ounces of fluid for every pound of body weight lost during exercise. Weighing yourself before and after workouts can help you gauge your fluid loss.

By following these guidelines, athletes can maintain proper hydration, optimize performance, and reduce the risk of dehydration-related complications.

Dehydration and Its Impact on Overall Health

Dehydration can have far-reaching effects on various bodily systems and overall health. Understanding these impacts underscores the importance of maintaining proper hydration.

Cardiovascular System

Dehydration can lead to decreased blood volume, causing the heart to work harder to pump blood throughout the body. This can result in:

• Increased heart rate
• Lower blood pressure
• Reduced cardiac output
• Increased risk of heat exhaustion and heat stroke

Cognitive Function

Even mild dehydration can affect cognitive performance. Studies have shown that dehydration can impair:

• Concentration
• Short-term memory
• Alertness
• Mood

Kidney Function

The kidneys play a crucial role in maintaining fluid balance. Chronic dehydration can lead to:

• Increased risk of kidney stones
• Urinary tract infections
• Long-term kidney damage

Digestive System

Proper hydration is essential for digestive health. Dehydration can contribute to:

• Constipation
• Acid reflux
• Increased risk of ulcers

By maintaining adequate hydration, you can support these vital bodily functions and promote overall health and well-being.

Innovative Approaches to Hydration Management

As our understanding of hydration and its impact on health grows, new approaches and technologies are emerging to help individuals manage their hydration more effectively.

Smart Water Bottles

These devices track water intake and remind users to drink throughout the day. Some models even integrate with fitness trackers to provide personalized hydration recommendations based on activity levels and environmental conditions.

Hydration Apps

Smartphone applications can help users set hydration goals, track fluid intake, and receive reminders to drink water. Many of these apps also provide educational content about the importance of hydration.

Advanced Rehydration Formulas

Researchers are developing more efficient oral rehydration solutions that not only replenish fluids and electrolytes but also support gut health and immune function. These formulas may include ingredients like:

• Prebiotics to support beneficial gut bacteria
• Zinc to boost immune function
• Amino acids to enhance fluid absorption

Wearable Hydration Sensors

Emerging technologies include wearable devices that can measure hydration status through skin conductivity or bioimpedance analysis. These devices provide real-time feedback on hydration levels, allowing users to adjust their fluid intake proactively.

While these innovations offer exciting possibilities for hydration management, it’s important to remember that they should complement, not replace, basic hydration practices and medical advice when needed.

Hydration Myths Debunked

There are many misconceptions surrounding hydration and fluid intake. Let’s address some common myths to provide clarity on proper hydration practices.

Myth: You need to drink 8 glasses of water a day

While this guideline is often cited, individual hydration needs vary based on factors like age, activity level, climate, and overall health. Focus on drinking when thirsty and maintaining pale yellow urine color rather than adhering to a strict number of glasses.

Myth: Coffee and tea are dehydrating

While caffeine has a mild diuretic effect, the fluid in coffee and tea contributes to overall hydration. Moderate consumption of these beverages can be part of a healthy hydration strategy.

Myth: Sports drinks are always better than water

For most people engaging in moderate exercise, water is sufficient for hydration. Sports drinks are beneficial for intense, prolonged exercise lasting more than an hour, or in very hot conditions where electrolyte replacement is necessary.

Myth: If you’re not thirsty, you’re hydrated

Thirst is not always a reliable indicator of hydration status, especially in older adults or during intense physical activity. It’s important to drink fluids regularly, not just when feeling thirsty.

Myth: Clear urine means you’re well-hydrated

While dark urine can indicate dehydration, completely clear urine may suggest overhydration. Aim for pale yellow urine as a sign of proper hydration.

Understanding these myths can help you make more informed decisions about your hydration habits and overall health.

Dehydration – Diagnosis & treatment

Diagnosis

Your doctor can often diagnose dehydration on the basis of physical signs and symptoms. If you’re dehydrated, you’re also likely to have low blood pressure, especially when moving from a lying to a standing position, a faster than normal heart rate and reduced blood flow to your extremities.

To help confirm the diagnosis and pinpoint the degree of dehydration, you may have other tests, such as:

• Blood tests. Blood samples may be used to check for a number of factors, such as the levels of your electrolytes — especially sodium and potassium — and how well your kidneys are working.
• Urinalysis. Tests done on your urine can help show whether you’re dehydrated and to what degree. They also can check for signs of a bladder infection.

More Information

Treatment

The only effective treatment for dehydration is to replace lost fluids and lost electrolytes. The best approach to dehydration treatment depends on age, the severity of dehydration and its cause.

For infants and children who have become dehydrated from diarrhea, vomiting or fever, use an over-the-counter oral rehydration solution. These solutions contain water and salts in specific proportions to replenish both fluids and electrolytes.

Start with about a teaspoon (5 milliliters) every one to five minutes and increase as tolerated. It may be easier to use a syringe for very young children. Older children can be given diluted sports drinks. Use 1 part sports drink to 1 part water.

Most adults with mild to moderate dehydration from diarrhea, vomiting or fever can improve their condition by drinking more water or other liquids. Diarrhea may be worsened by full-strength fruit juice and soft drinks.

If you work or exercise outdoors during hot or humid weather, cool water is your best bet. Sports drinks containing electrolytes and a carbohydrate solution also may be helpful.

Children and adults who are severely dehydrated should be treated by emergency personnel arriving in an ambulance or in a hospital emergency room. Salts and fluids delivered through a vein (intravenously) are absorbed quickly and speed recovery.

Preparing for your appointment

You’re likely to start by seeing your or your child’s doctor. However, in some cases when you call to set up an appointment, the doctor may recommend urgent medical care. If you, your child or an adult who you care for is showing signs of severe dehydration, such as lethargy or reduced responsiveness, seek immediate care at a hospital.

If you have time to prepare for your appointment, here’s some information to help you get ready, and what to expect from the doctor.

What you can do

• Write down any symptoms you or the person you’re caring for is experiencing, including any that may seem unrelated to the reason for which you scheduled the appointment. If you or the person you’re caring for has been vomiting or has had diarrhea, the doctor will want to know when it began and how frequently it’s been occurring.
• Write down key personal information, including any recent trips taken or foods recently eaten that might have caused illness. In addition, your doctor will want to know if you or the person you’re caring for has recently been exposed to anyone with diarrhea.
• Make a list of key medical information, including other conditions you or the person you’re caring for is being treated for and the names of the medications being taken. Include on your list prescription and over-the-counter drugs, as well as any vitamins and supplements.
• Write down questions to ask your doctor.

For dehydration, some basic questions to ask the doctor include:

• What’s causing these symptoms?
• What kinds of tests are needed?
• What treatment do you recommend?
• How soon after treatment will there be improvement?
• Are there any activity or dietary restrictions?
• Is there anything I can do to prevent a recurrence of dehydration?
• I have other health conditions. Do I need to change the treatments I’ve been using for them?
• What steps can I take to prevent dehydration from happening again?

What to expect from your doctor

Your doctor is likely to ask you a number of questions, such as:

• When did the symptoms begin? What were you doing?
• Are you able to keep down any food or drink?
• How recently have you urinated? Are you experiencing any pain or urgency with urination?
• Do you also have other signs or symptoms, such as abdominal cramping, fever, headache or muscle aches? How severe are these signs and symptoms?
• Has there been blood in your stools?
• Have you recently eaten any food that you suspect was spoiled?
• Has anyone gotten sick after eating the same food that you did?
• Have you recently been exposed to someone who you know was experiencing diarrhea?
• Have you been coughing or had a runny nose?
• What medications are you currently taking?
• Have you recently traveled to another country?
• Do you know what your or your child’s weight was before symptoms started?

Dehydration Treatment – Oral Rehydration Therapy and Fluid Replacement

Written by WebMD Editorial Contributors

• Is Drinking Water Enough?
• What to Do for a Dehydrated Child

You can become dehydrated for many different reasons. It could be from sweating too much. Vomiting or diarrhea can quickly remove fluids from your body, too. So can medicines that make you pee a lot.

All of these things can cause you to lose more water and electrolytes (essential minerals in your blood and body fluids) than are good for you. If you don’t have enough, your body has trouble doing the things it’s supposed to do.

There’s really only one way to treat dehydration — replace the fluids and electrolytes your body has lost.

For a mild case, it should be enough just to drink plenty of fluids. Water is your first choice, but there are lots of special drinks on the market that will help you replace your body’s lost water and electrolytes.

If you can’t get a pre-mixed rehydration solution, don’t try to make one yourself. Instead, replace lost fluids naturally with sips of water, fruit juice, crushed fruit mixed with water, or salty soups or broths.

Fruit juices may upset your stomach, so it’s best to dilute them with water. Avoid coffee, tea, soda, and alcoholic drinks. They’re diuretics, which means they can dehydrate you more because they all pull water from your body.

If your dehydration is serious, you may need to see a doctor to get treated with intravenous (IV) fluids. Severe dehydration may require you to go to the hospital. You should get medical attention immediately if you:

• Haven’t peed in 8 hours
• Have had a seizure
• Are disoriented or confused
• Have a weak or rapid pulse
• Feel very tired
• Feel dizzy when you stand
• Are too sick (nauseated or vomiting) to take in fluids

If your baby or child becomes dehydrated (usually because of a fever, vomiting or diarrhea), treatment with an oral rehydration solution is your best bet. There are several over-the-counter options (Hydralyte and Pedialyte), which will give your child the right balance of electrolytes and salts.

Try giving small sips or by the teaspoon to begin with. You may even need to use a syringe if they’re having trouble drinking. For an older child, sports drinks diluted with water are the best treatment. Again, start with small sips and give them more as they show they can tolerate it.

For an infant, give plenty of breast milk and formula, but don’t give fruit juices if they are vomiting or have diarrhea. They can make it worse.

Dehydration can be serious in a baby or young child. If you notice these signs, see a doctor right away:

• Extreme sleepiness
• Less responsive than usual
• Few wet diapers
• Cold and blotchy hands and feet
• No tears when crying
• Dark yellow pee
• Very dry mouth

Usually, dehydration is easy to treat at home if you get out of the heat and drink plenty of liquids. But once you’re thirsty, you’re probably already dehydrated, so it’s best to drink plenty of fluids regularly.

Top Picks

Dehydration and its symptoms

Moscow

org/BreadcrumbList”>

Health

Adviсe

Dehydration percentage:

• 1% – intense thirst, headache, general malaise;
• 5% – dizziness, nausea, fatigue, shortness of breath;
• 10% – convulsions, cell death;
• 20% – death.

1

During illness, especially in case of poisoning and SARS, drink much more than usual, and not only hot tea, popular in such situations, but also just clean water;

class=”li_div”>

2

When exercising and in hot weather, also increase the intake of water that is lost through sweat;

class=”li_div”>

3

Don’t tolerate being thirsty – always have a small bottle of water with you. And even better – a stylish and compact AQUAPHOR City filter bottle.

class=”li_div”>

class=”ol_div”>

• 09 April 2018

  93

  Is water an energy drink?

  • Health

  • Beauty

• December 05, 2022

  97

  How to remove iron in water from a well

  • Tips

  • Dacha

• March 30, 2018

  117

  What to give the child to drink?

  • Health

  • Tips

  • Children

• 01 June 2022

  71

  Water helps to lose weight

  • Beauty

  • Tips

• 02 April 2020

  64

  How to drink water during the coronavirus period?

  • Health

  • Tips

• 07 April 2018

  88

  Is bottled water safe?

  • Health

• September 08, 2017

  106

  Bath recipes: therapeutic baths at home

  • Health

  • Beauty

• April 10, 2020

  83

  3 simple water experiments for children

  • Tips

  • Children

• March 20, 2020

  79

  Risk factors during the coronavirus period. And what about the water?

  • Health

  • Tips

Application for video consultation

1

messenger for communication

2

contact details

3

date selection

Application sent 90 003

Our employee will conduct a video consultation at the selected time

symptoms, causes, complications, treatments

1. How dehydration occurs
2. Causes of dehydration
3. Additional factors
4. What happens when you get dehydrated
5. Dehydration types
6. Symptoms
7. Diagnostics
8. Treatment for dehydration
9. Prophylaxis
10. Making a rehydrating solution at home

Image by Freepik

Dehydration is a state of increased loss of moisture from the body. Otherwise, this condition is called dehydration or exsicosis. It is characterized by thirst, dry skin, decreased urine output. As the moisture deficit increases, the patient’s blood pressure decreases, the skin becomes pale, there are disturbances in consciousness, pathological changes in the blood composition – an increase in hematocrit. This is the name for an increase in the volume of red blood cells relative to the volume of the liquid part of the blood.

Dehydration is a dangerous condition in which the body needs an urgent restoration of water and electrolyte balance.

How dehydration occurs

Dehydration occurs when the liquid drops to 40–50 ml/kg. In this case, body weight decreases by 4-5% due to the loss of water. In the body, it is found in the blood, cells of organs and tissues, and intercellular space. If water loss as a result of exsicosis reaches 20-25%, tissue ischemia begins – a violation of the blood supply to organs and tissues due to an increase in hematocrit.

Causes of dehydration

Exicosis most often occurs against the background of various diseases and pathological conditions. Among them:

• intestinal infections that cause vomiting and upset stools;

• burns of the second or more degree, in which there is an extensive release of exudate;

• diseases that are accompanied by fever and increased sweating;

• insufficient fluid intake with food;

• diseases accompanied by shortness of breath, in which the body loses moisture due to the release of water vapor.

The most common cause of dehydration is intestinal infections. Up to 48% of all clinical cases of exsicosis are associated with such diseases. They pose the greatest danger to young children. Frequent vomiting and loose stools lead to rapid loss of moisture, which causes dehydration. In countries with a low standard of living and a high incidence of intestinal infections, excoses are one of the main causes of death in young children under the age of 5–6 years.

With extensive burns, a large amount of exudate is released. If the patient does not receive fluid replacement therapy, a fluid deficiency develops.

Increased sweating at elevated body temperature requires control of the drinking regimen. This is especially important if the patient is in a warm room.

Insufficient fluid intake with meals can lead to dehydration if a person voluntarily or deliberately restricts drinking. About one and a half liters of water the body loses per day with sweat, defecation and urination. If the fluid intake is below normal, exsicosis develops.

Dehydration associated with shortness of breath occurs in patients with respiratory and cardiac pathologies. This phenomenon in healthy people is observed when traveling to high mountainous areas due to changes in the composition of the air.

Additional factors

Even healthy people who live in hot regions, do intensive sports or physical labor in hot weather, and stay in the mountains face a moisture deficiency in the body. To avoid dehydration, it is necessary to consume enough water, fresh vegetables and fruits.

Patients taking diuretics and people on mechanical ventilation are also at risk. To prevent exsicosis, patients on mechanical ventilation are injected with saline solutions and moisten the respiratory mixture that enters the body.

What happens when you get dehydrated

When the body loses a lot of moisture, blood viscosity changes first of all. It increases against the background of a decrease in plasma volume. This negatively affects the blood supply to organs and tissues, including the brain. Dehydration leads to an electrolyte imbalance, a decrease in the amount of mineral salts. A decrease in the concentration of potassium, calcium and sodium ions leads to disruption in the work of the heart.

A patient with severe dehydration has acidosis, which is characterized by an acid-base imbalance. The pH formula shifts to the acid side. This leads to repeated vomiting, after which the person develops metabolic alkalosis. It is manifested by various disorders in the work of the respiratory and cardiovascular systems.

Dehydration types

The classification of exicoses includes their division into several groups depending on the severity of the course, the cause of the development of the pathology, the presence or absence of complications.

The severity of dehydration is mild, moderate and severe. It can be caused by external and internal causes, pass with complications and without them.

When choosing therapy, experts pay attention to the ratio of the loss of mineral salts and water. On this basis, three forms of dehydration are distinguished:

• hypoosmolar. It is characterized by a rapid loss of salts with a slow development of water deficiency. This leads to the rapid onset of negative symptoms from the central nervous system. The patient’s blood circulation is disturbed, signs of a neurological disorder appear;

• hyperosmolar. Fluid loss occurs faster than electrolyte loss. Due to this, their concentration increases. With this kind of dehydration, pronounced symptoms appear only with a significant deficit of moisture;

• isosmolar. The loss of water and salts is about the same. The patient has a decrease in the amount of urine excreted, may decrease blood pressure (BP) and central venous pressure.

Symptoms

Each degree of dehydration is characterized by special signs:

• mild degree. The patient is thirsty, the pulse remains normal, may become more frequent. Skin and mucous membranes are unchanged. On the part of the nervous system, there may be signs of anxiety and anxiety;

• average degree. Externally, the pathology is manifested by dry skin and mucous membranes, a decrease in diuresis. The eyes become sunken, the patient’s pulse quickens, the pressure is increased or decreased by about 20% of the usual values. From the side of the central nervous system, both anxiety and lethargy can be observed;

• severe degree. Pronounced fluid deficiency causes neurological disorders. The patient is very lethargic and practically does not react to anything. Breathing becomes difficult, blood pressure is greatly reduced, tachycardia is characteristic. The skin looks pale and has a bluish tint, it is cold to the touch.

Moderate to severe dehydration increases the risk of complications. First of all, they are associated with the formation of blood clots due to the high viscosity of the blood. When a thrombus clogs the vessels of vital organs, the patient may die or receive irreversible negative changes. Some people who survive severe dehydration develop chronic headaches, weakness, and reduced muscle mobility. Children have cognitive impairment.

Diagnostics

At the first signs of dehydration, it is necessary to contact a medical institution to a general practitioner, a general practitioner, a pediatrician. If dehydration is severe, an ambulance must be called to hospitalize the patient in a medical facility.

For the diagnosis of exicosis, the following are used:

• visual examination and questioning of the patient for the presence of vomiting, diarrhea;

• measurement of arterial and central venous pressure;

• blood test for electrolytes and hematocrit.

A decrease in central venous pressure and an increase in hematocrit above the age norm indicate fluid deficiency.

Treatment for dehydration

With mild dehydration, the patient is treated at home. With moderate and severe fluid deficiency, which are accompanied by changes in the central nervous system, circulatory disorders, hospitalization and intensive treatment are necessary.

The main ways to eliminate exsicosis are:

• the use of rehydrating solutions or large amounts of liquid with the addition of salt to restore water and electrolyte balance;

• intravenous infusion of glucose and saline solutions. It is used in conditions that are accompanied by severe vomiting. Fluid therapy will make up for the lack of fluid if the patient cannot drink it by mouth due to frequent vomiting.

Severe dehydration may require intensive care with a ventilator. With signs of tissue ischemia, neuroprotectors, potassium preparations, drugs to maintain the work of the heart are prescribed.

Treatment is continued until normalization of blood circulation and diuresis. To achieve stable results, it is important to identify the exact cause of the pathological condition and eliminate it.

As a rule, with a slight dehydration, it is possible to completely normalize the patient’s condition within 1-2 days. In moderate and severe dehydration, the prognosis depends on the severity. In some cases, the risk of developing serious violations of body functions, up to irreversible processes, increases.

Prophylaxis

To avoid dehydration, you need to know what factors provoke it, and take appropriate safety measures. This is, first of all, adequate intake of water and fluids. Its volume is from 1.5 liters per day and increases with intense physical exertion, in hot weather.

If the patient has diarrhea or vomiting, rehydration solutions should be used to prevent dehydration. You can buy them at a pharmacy or make your own at home. Pharmacy rehydrating solutions contain potassium chloride, sodium chloride and other mineral salts.

The funds are available in the form of a powder that dissolves in water and is taken orally to prevent water and electrolyte disorders. Powders contain flavoring additives, due to which the use of the drug does not cause discomfort in adults and children.

In addition to powders, rehydrating agents are available as infusion solutions.

Making a rehydrating solution at home

If it is not possible to buy a pharmacy product, it can be seen as a home analogue. To prepare the drink, you need a tablespoon of salt, a teaspoon of soda and two tablespoons of sugar.