Dehydration - Causes and Treatment

Dehydration (hypohydration) is the removal of water (hydro in ancient Greek) from an object. In Physiologic terms, it entails a relative deficiency of water molecules in relation to other dissolved solutes. Dehydration, thus, is slightly different from hypovolemia, which defines water deficiency only in terms of overall volume rather than in terms of solute concentrations.

Dehydration is loss of important blood salts like potassium (K+) and sodium (Na+). Vital organs like the kidneys, brain, and heart can’t function without a certain minimum of water and salt. In underdeveloped countries, dehydration from diseases like cholera and dysentery kills millions every year (usually infants and children).

Causes

The usual causes of dehydration are diarrhoea and vomiting. Dehydration can also occur if one does not eat or drink much during an illness or if one does 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.

Symptoms And Signs of Dehydration

A reliable clue to indicate dehydration is a rapid drop in weight. This loss may equal several pounds in a few days (or at times hours). A rapid drop of over 10% (fifteen pounds in a person weighing 150 pounds) is considered severe. Symptoms may be difficult to distinguish from those of the original illness, but in general, the following signs are suggestive of dehydration; increasing thirst, dry mouth, weakness or lightheadedness (particularly if worsening on standing), darkening of the urine, or a decrease in urination.

Preventing Dehydration

Water is one of the most important nutrients in our body. It makes up approximately 70 percent of our muscles, and about 75 percent of our brains. We use water as well as expend it. In fact just in everyday breathing we lose about two cups of water. Other ways that we lose body water is through sweating and urinating. If we fail to replenish these losses, we set ourselves up to become dehydrated.

Treatment

It is best to re-hydrate yourself, whether it is from creek, stream or lake. Your survival might depend on it. When you are then found and get back to a location where you can be treated, the healthcare professionals can treat your symptoms at that point in time. For example, Giardia Lambia, which is the very common organism that causes diarrhea, the incubation for Giardia is approximately 3 weeks. You will be found most likely in less time than that, and you are not going to suffer any symptoms until you get back. So, hydration is key. Please drink the water if you are in a situation that warrants that.

Unless your doctor advises otherwise, use an oral rehydration solution such as Pedialyte for infants and children who have diarrhea, vomiting or fever. These solutions contain water and salts in specific proportions to replenish both fluids and electrolytes. They also contain glucose or another carbohydrate such as rice powder to enhance absorption in the intestinal tract. Oral rehydration products are readily available in most drugstores, and many pharmacies carry their own brands. Begin giving fluids early in the course of an illness instead of waiting until the situation becomes urgent.