Dehydration

In medicine, dehydration referred (synonyms dehydration, dehydration, hypohydration, dehydration, from Ancient Greek ὕδωρ hydor, water ') has a water shortage in the body. Antonyms are to overhydration or hyperhydration.

Pathophysiology

An excessive loss of body fluid through pathologically decreased fluid intake or increased fluid loss morbid, leading to dehydration. The fluid loss can via the gastrointestinal tract ( bowel movements ), the lungs ( breath ), the kidneys done ( urine) or via the skin ( perspiration ). Diseases, such as the kidney or fever, or heavy physical effort may lead to increased liquid loss and hence to a fluid imbalance. There are three types of dehydration:

Therapy

Most important therapeutic measure is to replace the lost water. This is done in mild dehydration with either oral or intravenous solutions substitution. Depending on the severity sometimes several liters of fluid to be infused. The infusion solution differs depending on the type of dehydration. In an isotonic dehydration a simple Ringer's solution can be given. In a hypotonic dehydration sodium sometimes needs to be replaced, but this compensation shall be done very slowly to provoke no severe cerebral side effects. The hypertonic dehydration is treated with infusion of free water.

Dehydration in children

Especially infants and small children develop dehydration due to gastroenteritis with vomiting and diarrhea at the same time refusing food intake. In infants is referred to a weight loss of 5 % of a slight dehydration, at 10% of a clear and at 10 to 15% of severe dehydration. Older children are more sensitive to some of the fluid loss.