Dehydration is defined as the excessive loss of body water. Symptoms of gastrointestinal diseases that cause nausea, vomiting or diarrhea (NVD) often lead to dehydration. Some of the other causes of dehydration include heat exposure, prolonged vigorous exertion, kidney disease, and medications that promote urination (diuretics).
One common indication of dehydration is a rapid drop in weight. An unwanted loss of over 10% of body weight (15 pounds in a person weighing 150 pounds) in a short time period is considered severe.
Signs and Symptoms of Dehydration
Symptoms and signs of dehydration include increasing thirst, dry mouth, weakness or lightheadedness when standing up, and a darkened urine or a decrease in urination. Severe dehydration can lead to changes in the body’s chemistry and kidney failure which may be life-threatening.
Dehydration due to diarrhea is a major cause of morbidity (disease) and mortality (death) in children. A child has a more rapid turnover of body fluids than does an adult. In rehydrating a child, there is less margin for error than in the case of an adult. The younger the child, the more carefully should the rehydration be carried out. Cases that demand particular attention to detail are those in which organ function (especially skin, heart, brain, or kidney) may be critically compromised. Overhydration may be as serious as severe dehydration in children and rehydration should therefore be done under strict medical supervision.
Preventative Health to Maintaining Fluids
The best way to avoid dehydration is to prevent it from occurring. If you suspect excessive fluid loss, notify a physician immediately. Intravenous or oral fluid replacement may be needed.
If oral rehydration is not possible or sufficient, you may need to receive an infusion of fluids intravenously. If you are battling a bacterial infection, antibiotics may also be administered via I.V. While I.V. treatments are most often administered in a hospital environment, they may sometimes be administered at home or in the doctor’s office.
A typical I.V. fluid involves disinfecting an area of your lower arm and inserting a catheter into a vein. This may sting for a few seconds. Fluids are then delivered via the I.V. at a predetermined rate of flow. Normally, you will start to feel better in under one hour.
When to See a Doctor
Dehydration symptoms are often disregarded because patients are reluctant to schedule a visit to a primary care doctor due to cost factors. These untreated symptoms may result in more serious consequences that lead to a visit to the E.R. or hospital. As a Weisz Concierge Medical member, it’s a different story. Your cost remains the same no matter how many times you are seen by Dr. Weisz. You will not have to consider cost at your first encounter with symptoms of dehydration or infection. You will be seen and treated quickly and that will reduce the chances of your becoming more seriously ill and winding up in the hospital.
