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McKesson Clinical Reference Systems: Women's Health Advisor 2002.2
Spanish version
Dehydration
What is dehydration?
The human body needs water to maintain enough blood and
other fluids to function properly. If your body loses much
more fluid than you are drinking, you become dehydrated.
You lose fluids when you:
- urinate
- vomit or have diarrhea
- sweat
- breathe, especially during rapid breathing
- overexert yourself in hot or humid weather
- have a fever.
Along with the fluids, your body also loses electrolytes
(mineral salts).
How does it occur?
The usual causes of dehydration are a lot of diarrhea and
vomiting. Dehydration can also occur if you do not eat or
drink much during an illness or if you do not drink enough
during or after strenuous exercise. Medications that
control excess body fluid (diuretics) by causing fluid loss
are a common long-term cause. Although anyone can become
dehydrated, those who become dehydrated the most easily are:
- babies less than 1 year old
- the elderly
- anyone who has a fever
- people in hot weather.
What are the symptoms?
Symptoms of early or mild dehydration include:
- flushed face
- extreme thirst
- dry, warm skin
- small amounts of dark, yellow urine
- dizziness made worse when you stand
- weakness
- cramping in the arms and legs
- crying with few or no tears
- headache
- dry mouth with thick saliva.
Symptoms of moderate to severe dehydration include:
- low blood pressure
- fainting
- severe muscle contractions in the arms, legs, stomach,
and back
- convulsions
- a bloated stomach
- sunken eyes with few or no tears
- lack of skin elasticity (a bit of skin lifted up takes a
long time to go back to its normal position)
- rapid and deep breathing.
How is it diagnosed?
Your doctor will review your symptoms and do a physical
exam.
How is it treated?
If you are mildly dehydrated, you need to drink enough
liquid to replace the fluids you have lost. Also, you need
to replace the electrolytes you have lost. Drinking sips of
water slowly, along with eating the typical American diet,
which is high in salt, will replace fluids and salts you
have lost.
Nonprescription medicines are available that help replenish
fluids and electrolytes. You can also replace fluids and
electrolytes by drinking sports drinks or other oral
rehydration solutions (ORS). Drink the solution
immediately. Do not wait until dehydration becomes severe.
Packets of oral rehydration salts are widely available. Mix
the contents of a packet with 1 quart or liter of drinking
water. If you are not sure if the water is safe to drink,
first boil the water for at least 5 minutes.
If you don't have a sports drink or ORS packet, you can
make an oral rehydration solution using the following
recipe: To 1 quart or liter of drinking water or boiled
water, add the following:
- 2 tablespoons sugar or honey
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon baking soda (bicarbonate of soda).
If you don't have any baking soda, add another 1/4 teaspoon
of salt. If possible, add 1/2 cup orange juice or some
mashed banana to improve the taste and provide some
potassium.
Drink sips of the ORS every 5 minutes until urination
becomes normal. (It's normal to urinate 4 or 5 times a
day.) Adults and large children should drink at least
3 quarts or liters of ORS a day until they are well.
If you are vomiting, keep trying to drink the ORS. Your
body will retain some of the fluids and salts you need even
though you are vomiting. Remember to take only sips of
liquids. Chilling the ORS may help.
If you have diarrhea, keep drinking the ORS. The fluids
will not increase the diarrhea.
If you have symptoms of severe dehydration, you need to go
to an emergency room or other health care facility to get
intravenous (IV) fluids. If you are able to drink, you
should also drink the ORS.
With treatment for dehydration, whatever is causing
diarrhea, vomiting, or other symptoms should also be
treated.
How long will the effects last?
If dehydration is not treated, it can cause death. If it is
treated in time, recovery is usually complete.
How can I take care of myself?
- Know the symptoms of dehydration. Try to drink extra
fluids if you know your body is losing them rapidly.
- Know the recipe for ORS.
- If you are traveling in a country that may not have safe
water for drinking, carry with you a quart (liter) of
boiled water and packets or the ingredients for making
oral rehydration solutions.
What can be done to prevent dehydration?
If you have diarrhea or vomiting or you are not drinking
much, force yourself to drink more liquids before you become
dehydrated.
If you are with someone you think is becoming dehydrated,
follow these guidelines when possible:
- Give more liquids than usual.
- Remember that a dehydrated person will have less of an
appetite. Encourage him or her to eat and drink small
amounts of food and liquids 5 to 7 times a day.
- Watch for signs of more severe dehydration and get
medical help as soon as possible.
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