Dehydration
Dehydration happens when a person loses more fluid than they take in, and the child does not take in enough water to ensure normal functioning of the body. If you don't get fluids, dehydration is inevitable
Common causes of dehydration are: prolonged exercise, especially in the heat, intense diarrhea, heat or excessive sweating Without drinking enough water during exercise, dehydration will also develop Anyone can develop dehydration, but young children, the elderly, and those with chronic illnesses are at greater risk.
Mild to moderate dehydration can be treated with more fluids, but severe dehydration requires medical intervention. The best strategy is to prevent dehydration Watch how much fluid you lose in hot weather, when you are sick, during exercise, and take the necessary amount of water to replace it
Dehydration occurs when enough fluid cannot replace the fluid lost during the day The body's systems dry up Sometimes, dehydration happens for a simple reason - you can't get enough fluids because you're sick or busy, you don't have drinking water while traveling
Other causes of dehydration are:
- Diarrhea, vomiting Severe, acute diarrhea causes the loss of large amounts of fluid and electrolytes in a short period of time If you have diarrhea along with vomiting, you lose even more fluids and minerals Children and infants are particularly vulnerable at such times Diarrhea can be caused by a bacterial or viral infection, a hypersensitivity to certain foods, a reaction to medication, or intestinal disease.
- Fever In general, the higher the heat, the more dehydration develops If the fever is accompanied by diarrhea or vomiting, you lose even more fluid
- Excessive sweating Fluid is also lost in the form of sweat If you don't replace lost fluids after exercise, you will develop dehydration Hot, humid weather increases the amount of sweat and fluid lost Dehydration is also possible in winter Adolescents participating in sports activities are at particular risk due to their lower body weight (lower than adults) and lack of awareness of the signs of dehydration.
- Increased urination This may be due to undiagnosed or uncontrolled diabetes Certain medications, such as diuretics and some blood pressure medications, also cause dehydration because more urine or sweat is produced.
Symptoms of mild or moderate dehydration include: - Dry, sticky mouth
- Drowsiness, tiredness – reduced activity in children
- Thirst
- Less urination
- Dry diapers for 3 hours in babies
- Crying A better indicator is the color of your urine – light-colored urine means you're getting enough fluids, while dark-colored urine is a sign of dehydration.
When to see a doctor
If you are an otherwise healthy adult, mild to moderate dehydration can be treated by drinking more fluids. Seek immediate medical attention if you have signs of severe dehydration, such as extreme thirst, no urine, dry skin, dizziness, and confusion.
More caution is needed in children and the elderly Call a doctor right away if a child or an elderly person has:
- severe diarrhea, with or without vomiting, sometimes with a fever
- bloody or black stools
- moderate diarrhea lasting 24 hours or more
- cannot take fluids
- irritable, You can avoid this condition if you carefully observe the illness of the child or the elderly and give fluids soon after the onset of diarrhea, vomiting Also, encourage children to drink plenty of fluids before, during, and after exercise
