Dehydration occurs when your body loses too much fluid. This can happen when you stop drinking water or lose large amounts of fluid through diarrhea, vomiting, sweating, or exercise. Not drinking enough fluids can cause muscle cramps. You may feel faint. Usually your body can reabsorb fluid from your blood and other body tissues. But by the time you become severely dehydrated, you no longer have enough fluid in your body to get blood to your organs. You may go into shock, which is a life-threatening condition.
Dehydration can occur in anyone of any age. But it's most dangerous for babies, small children, and older adults.
Dehydration in babies and small children
Babies and small children have a greater chance of becoming dehydrated. That's because:
A greater portion of their bodies is made of water.
Children have a high metabolic rate, so their bodies use more water.
A child's kidneys don't conserve water as well as an adult's kidneys.
A child's natural defense system that helps fight infection (immune system) isn't fully developed. This makes them more likely to get an illness that causes vomiting and diarrhea.
Children often won't drink or eat when they aren't feeling well.
They depend on their caregivers to provide them with food and fluids.
Dehydration in older adults
Older adults have a greater chance of becoming dehydrated because they may:
Not drink because they don't feel thirsty.
Have kidneys that don't work well.
Choose not to drink because they can't control their bladders (incontinence).
Have physical problems or a disease that makes it:
Hard to drink or hold a glass.
Painful to get up from a chair.
Painful or exhausting to go to the bathroom.
Hard to talk or communicate to someone about their symptoms.
Take medicines, such as antihistamines or blood pressure medicines, that increase urine output.
Find it harder to eat a healthy diet.
Early symptoms of dehydration
Watch babies, small children, and older adults closely for the early symptoms of dehydration anytime they have an illness that causes high fever, vomiting, or diarrhea. These are the early symptoms of dehydration:
The mouth and eyes may be drier than usual.
The person may pass less urine than usual.
The person may feel cranky, tired, or dizzy.
Check Your Symptoms
Do you have a concern about dehydration?
Yes
Concern about dehydration
No
Concern about dehydration
How old are you?
Less than 3 months
Less than 3 months
3 months to 11 years
3 months to 11 years
12 years or older
12 years or older
Are you male or female?
Male
Male
Female
Female
The medical assessment of symptoms is based on the body parts you have.
If you are transgender or nonbinary, choose the sex that matches the body parts (such as ovaries, testes, prostate, breasts, penis, or vagina) you now have in the area where you are having symptoms.
If your symptoms aren’t related to those organs, you can choose the gender you identify with.
If you have some organs of both sexes, you may need to go through this triage tool twice (once as "male" and once as "female"). This will make sure that the tool asks the right questions for you.
Does your baby seem sick?
A sick baby probably will not be acting normally. For example, the baby may be much fussier than usual or not want to eat.
Are you having trouble drinking enough to replace the fluids you've lost?
Little sips of fluid usually are not enough. You need to be able to take in and keep down plenty of fluids.
Yes
Unable to maintain fluid intake
No
Able to maintain fluid intake
Do you think that a medicine could be causing the dehydration?
Think about whether the problem started after you began using a new medicine or a higher dose of a medicine.
Yes
Medicine may be causing dehydration
No
Medicine may be causing dehydration
Many things can affect how your body responds to a symptom and what kind of care you may need. These include:
Your age. Babies and older adults tend to get sicker quicker.
Your overall health. If you have a condition such as diabetes, HIV, cancer, or heart disease, you may need to pay closer attention to certain symptoms and seek care sooner.
Medicines you take. Certain medicines, such as blood thinners (anticoagulants), medicines that suppress the immune system like steroids or chemotherapy, herbal remedies, or supplements can cause symptoms or make them worse.
Recent health events, such as surgery or injury. These kinds of events can cause symptoms afterwards or make them more serious.
Your health habits and lifestyle, such as eating and exercise habits, smoking, alcohol or drug use, sexual history, and travel.
Try Home Treatment
You have answered all the questions. Based on your answers, you may be able to take care of this problem at home.
Try home treatment to relieve the symptoms.
Call your doctor if symptoms get worse or you have any concerns (for example, if symptoms are not getting better as you would expect). You may need care sooner.
Sometimes people don't want to call 911. They may think that their symptoms aren't serious or that they can just get someone else to drive them. Or they might be concerned about the cost. But based on your answers, the safest and quickest way for you to get the care you need is to call 911 for medical transport to the hospital.
Seek Care Now
Based on your answers, you may need care right away. The problem is likely to get worse without medical care.
Call your doctor now to discuss the symptoms and arrange for care.
If you cannot reach your doctor or you don't have one, seek care in the next hour.
You do not need to call an ambulance unless:
You cannot travel safely either by driving yourself or by having someone else drive you.
You are in an area where heavy traffic or other problems may slow you down.
Self-Care
In the early stages, you may be able to correct mild dehydration with home treatment. It's important to take action to prevent dehydration. Here are some things you can do.
Stop your activity.
Get out of direct sunlight.
Lie down in a cool spot, such as in the shade or an air-conditioned area.
Prop up your feet.
Take off any extra clothes.
Drink plenty of fluids.
Use an electrolyte replacement drink or sports drink to replace fluids and minerals.
Rest.
Take it easy for 24 hours. Keep drinking a lot of fluids. You'll probably start feeling better within just a few hours. But it may take as long as a day and a half to completely replace the fluid that you lost.
Caring for a child
It's important to take action to prevent dehydration in children, ages 1 to 11 years. Use these tips if your child is dehydrated.
Give your child more fluids.
Make sure that your child is drinking often. Frequent, small amounts work best.
Give your child cereal or flavored ice pops.
Fluids can be replaced with cereal mixed with milk or water. Don't give your child fruit juice or soda pop. They contain too much sugar and not enough of the essential minerals (electrolytes) that are being lost. Diet soda pop lacks calories that your child needs.
Give your child an oral rehydration solution (ORS).
If your child still isn't drinking enough fluids, you can try an ORS, such as Pedialyte. The amount of ORS your child needs depends on your child's age and size.
Caring for a baby
Don't wait until you see signs of dehydration in your newborn or baby younger than 1 year of age. These signs include your baby having fewer or no wet diapers and dry mouth and dry eyes (fewer tears than usual). Here are some things you can do help prevent your baby from getting dehydrated.
Give your baby more fluids.
Breastfeed your baby more often. Offer each breast to your baby for 1 to 2 minutes every 10 minutes. If you use a bottle to feed your baby, increase the number of feedings to make up for lost fluids. The amount of extra fluid your baby needs depends on your baby's age and size. For example, a newborn may need as little as 1 fl oz (30 mL) at each extra feeding. A 12-month-old baby may need as much as 3 fl oz (90 mL) at each extra feeding.
Check with your doctor about using an oral rehydration solution (ORS).
If your baby still isn't getting enough fluids from formula or the breast, you can try an ORS, such as Pedialyte. The amount of ORS your baby needs depends on your baby's age and size. You can give the ORS in a dropper, a spoon, or a bottle.
Give your baby more cereal.
If your baby has started eating cereal, you may replace lost fluids with cereal. You also may feed your baby strained bananas and mashed potatoes if your child has had these foods before.
When to call for help during self-care
Call a doctor if any of the following occur during self-care at home:
Author: Healthwise Staff Clinical Review Board All Healthwise education is reviewed by a team that includes physicians, nurses, advanced practitioners, registered dieticians, and other healthcare professionals.
Clinical Review Board All Healthwise education is reviewed by a team that includes physicians, nurses, advanced practitioners, registered dieticians, and other healthcare professionals.
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