Dehydration In Children

GENERAL INFORMATION:

What is it? Dehydration (d-hi-dray-shun) is a loss of body water. This happens when a child loses more body water than he is able to drink. Any child may get dehydrated. But dehydration can be serious in newborns and infants.

Causes: Dehydration may be caused by fever, vomiting (throw up), or diarrhea (di-uh-ree-uh). It may also be caused by sweating, not drinking enough liquids, or being in the sun too long.

Signs/Symptoms: Signs of dehydration may include fever, sleepiness, urinating less often, dry mouth and skin, cracked lips, and sunken eyes. The soft spot on top of your baby's head may be sunken if he is less than 1 year. Your child may not have tears when he cries. Your child's urine may be a dark yellow.

Care: Many children can be treated at home for dehydration. If the dehydration is serious, your child may need to be put in the hospital to be treated. Your child may need to be given extra liquids in the hospital. Your child may also need to be treated for whatever is causing the dehydration.

CARE AGREEMENT:

You have the right to help plan your child's care. To help with this plan, you must learn about your child's health condition and how it may be treated. You can then discuss treatment options with your child's caregivers. Work with them to decide what care may be used to treat your child.

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