Dehydration occurs when little water is available for proper functioning of the body, generating symptoms such as severe headaches, fatigue, severe thirst, dry mouth and little urine, for example.
For a dehydration situation to occur, more water must be lost than ingestion, and this can happen for several reasons, such as being in an environment with a high temperature for a long time, exercising very intensely or suffering constant vomiting and diarrhoea. .
- Dehydration is more common in children and the elderly.
- But this is usually because it is common that they are not thirsty as often and end up not drinking enough water throughout the day.
- For this reason.
- It is very important to monitor the signs of dehydration in this population.
Depending on the degree of dehydration, symptoms may vary
The first symptoms of dehydration are usually:
These symptoms can go unnoticed easily, especially in the elderly, who have more difficulty thirsting, even if they need them. Therefore, it is very important to drink water always several times a day, especially if you are sick or during the summer.
Usually, this type of dehydration is easy to treat, it is only recommended to increase water intake during the day.
When dehydration continues to worsen and there is no treatment, other symptoms, usually associated with moderate dehydration such as muscle pain, cramps, loss of balance, worsening headaches and dizziness, begin to appear.
In case of moderate dehydration, in addition to offering more water, it is also recommended to take home serum or an oral rehydration solution, sold in pharmacies, which in addition to water also helps to restore mineral levels.
In the most severe cases, where there is a loss of more than 10 to 15% body water, symptoms worsen and may include:
In more sensitive people, such as children and the elderly, periods of delirium as well as fainting can occur.
In these cases, treatment should usually be done in the hospital with serum administration directly into the vein and should be initiated as soon as possible to avoid serious complications.
In infants, it may be more difficult to identify a dehydration situation, so parents should be alert to signs such as:
In slightly older children, there may be difficulty concentrating and learning in school and few desires to play. Learn how to rehydrate your baby and know when to go to the pediatrician.
The diagnosis of dehydration is made by your doctor and can be done by looking at the symptoms you have.
In addition, it can be ensured that it is dehydration when a skin fold is pinched on the back of the hand and that the skin slowly returns to its original state and to check the severity of dehydration, your doctor may also order a blood and urine test. Test.
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 should be done by drinking water, tea, fruit juice, milk and soup. It’s also important to eat fresh vegetables, such as tomatoes, fruits like watermelon, fresh cheese, and yogurt, for example. If the patient has difficulty swallowing, stay hydrated with gelatin or gelled water, which you can find in a pharmacy.
Hydration can also be obtained by ingestion of home serum or in the hospital with the use of serum injected directly into the vein. Here’s how to make a homemade serum at home: