Dehydration occurs when there you lose water faster than you replenish it. Dehydration can occur with illness, excessive sweating, diarrhea, vomiting or inadequate fluid intake. Children are especially susceptible to dehydration due to their small size and high turnover of water. Early recognition of the signs and symptoms of dehydration can lead to prompt treatment and prevent the significant consequences that can occur with severe dehydration. (See Reference 1)
Mild Dehydration
Common symptoms of mild dehydration include dry mouth, flushed skin, dry lips, decreased urine output, dark urine color and fatigue. Irritability may be present in children. Mild dehydration can often be corrected by quickly replacing fluids. (See References 1, 2 and 3)
Moderate Dehydration
In addition to the signs and symptoms of mild dehydration, moderate dehydration produces sunken eyes, further decreases in urine production, severe headache, muscle cramps and stiff joints. A sunken fontanel, or soft spot on the skull, may become evident in infants with moderate dehydration. (See References 1, 2 and 3)
Severe Dehydration
Symptoms of severe dehydration encompass all of those for mild and moderate dehydration in addition to neurological symptoms, including confusion and severe lethargy, rapid pulse and breathing, low blood pressure, lack of urine production and fainting. Common symptoms in children include a wet diaper in infants and failure to produce tears when crying. (See References 1, 2 and 3)
Dehydration and Illness
Signs and symptoms of dehydration may be harder to detect in your child if he has an illness. Gastroinestinal illness causing vomiting and diarrhea can quickly lead to dehydration in children. Medical care should be sought if your child has an illness and continues vomiting for more than 12 hours or has diarrhea for more than five days. Endocrine disorders such as diabetes mellitus and diabetes insipidus can also cause dehydration by contributing to excess urine production. (See Reference 4 and 5)
Considerations
You should not rely on thirst as a symptom of dehydration in children. The mechanisms for producing the sensation of thirst do not become active until dehydration has already set in. Children should therefore drink early and often when the risk for dehydration exists. The color and quantity of urine provides an earlier and more reliable marker of dehydration. (See References 2 and 4)
Outlook
Early detection of symptoms of mild and moderate dehydration leading to prompt treatment usually yields a good outcome. Severe dehydration represents a true medical emergency. Untreated severe dehydration can cause brain damage, seizures and death. Recognition of the signs and symptoms are critical in preventing severe dehydration and getting your child medical care in a timely fashion if necessary. (See References 1 and 4)
