Dehydration: signs and symptoms to identify

Dehydration happens when there is little water available for the proper functioning of the body, generating symptoms such as severe headache, tiredness, intense thirst, dry mouth and little urine, for example.

For a dehydration situation to happen, more water must be lost than what is ingested, and this can happen for several reasons, such as being in a high temperature environment for a long time, exercising too intensely or suffering from constant vomiting and diarrhea.

Dehydration is more frequent in children and the elderly, but this is usually because they often do not feel thirsty so often, and end up not drinking enough water throughout the day. For this reason, it is very important to watch for signs of dehydration in this population.

Depending on the degree of dehydration, symptoms may vary:

1. Mild dehydration

The first symptoms of dehydration are usually:

• Feeling of constant thirst; Decreased amount of urine; Dark yellow urine.

These symptoms can easily go unnoticed, especially in the elderly, who find it more difficult to feel thirsty, even if they need it. So it is very important to always drink water several times a day, especially if you are ill or during the summer.

Usually, this type of dehydration is easy to treat, it is only recommended to increase your water intake during the day.

2. Moderate dehydration

When dehydration continues to worsen and there is no treatment, other symptoms begin to appear, which are usually related to a condition of moderate dehydration such as muscle pain, cramps, loss of balance, worsening of headache and dizziness.

In moderate dehydration, in addition to offering more water, it is also recommended to take home-made serum or an oral rehydration solution, sold at the pharmacy, which in addition to water also helps restore mineral levels.

3. Severe dehydration

In the most severe cases, in which there is a loss of more than 10 to 15% of body water, symptoms worsen and may include:

• Lack of sweat; Dry skin and lips; Decreased heart rate; Dark circles under the eyes; Low and constant fever.

In more sensitive people, such as children and the elderly, periods of delirium may occur, as well as fainting.

In these cases, treatment usually needs to be done at the hospital with the administration of serum directly into the vein and should be started as soon as possible to avoid serious complications.

How to identify baby dehydration

In the baby, it can be more complicated to identify a dehydration situation, so parents should be alert to signs such as:

• Crying without tears; Easy irritation; Excessive drowsiness; Little urine in the diaper, urinating less than 5 times a day and with a very strong smell. Moleirinha softer than usual when touched.

In slightly older children, there may be difficulties in concentrating and learning at school and little desire to play. See how to rehydrate the baby and know when to go to the pediatrician.

How to confirm dehydration

The diagnosis of dehydration is made by the doctor and can be made by observing the symptoms presented.

In addition, one can make sure that it is dehydration when a skin fold is pinched on the back of the hand and this skin slowly returns to its original state and to check the severity of dehydration the doctor may also order a blood test and urine.

Treatment for dehydration

The treatment of dehydration depends on the age of the patient, however in adults and children it is essential to ingest about 2 L of fluids per day and rehydration must be done through the intake of water, tea, fruit juices, milk and soup. It is also important to eat fresh vegetables, such as tomatoes, fruit such as watermelon, fresh cheese and yogurt, for example. If the patient has difficulty swallowing, hydrate by offering gelatin or gelled water, which can be found in pharmacies.

Hydration can also be achieved through the ingestion of homemade serum or in hospital with the use of serum injected directly into the vein. Here's how to prepare homemade serum at home: