WHAT IS DEHYDRATION?

Dehydration
Dehydration is the loss of water from the body in excess of the amount consumed.
WHAT IS IT?

Dehydration occurs when the body loses more water than is taken in. It is often accompanied by disturbances in the body's mineral salt or electrolyte balance - especially disturbances in the concentrations of sodium and potassium. + read more

HOW IS IT CAUSED?

Mild dehydration is common and usually caused by not drinking enough fluids throughout the day. In children, diarrhoea is a common cause. + read more

CONSEQUENCES

A loss of body water equivalent to about 1% of body weight is normally compensated within 24 hours. Thirst stimulates drinking, so intake is increased and there is also a reduction in water loss by the kidneys. If losses are greater than this, reductions in physical and cognitive performance may occur and there may be some impairment of thermoregulation and cardiovascular function. + read more

WHAT IS DEHYDRATION? (1)

Dehydration occurs when the body loses more water than is taken in. It is often accompanied by disturbances in the body's mineral salt or electrolyte balance especially disturbances in the concentrations of sodium and potassium. Under typical circumstances the body loses and needs to replace approximately 2 to 3 litres of water daily. Breathing, urinating, defecating, and perspiring all cause water losses that need to be replaced on a daily basis. If water is lost from the bloodstream, the body can compensate somewhat by shifting water from cells into the blood vessels, but this is a very short-term solution. If the lost water is not replenished, the body may suffer serious consequences.

WHAT IS DEHYDRATION? (2)

The body is able to monitor the amount of water it needs to function. The thirst mechanism signals the body to drink when the body water content is reduced. Hormones, including anti-diuretic hormone (ADH), work with the kidney to limit the amount of water lost in the urine when the body needs to conserve water. Water intake and output are highly variable but closely matched to less than 0.1% over an extended period through homeostatic control. Electrolyte intake and output are also closely linked, both to each other and to the hydration status. Failure to match intake and loss of water and minerals, especially sodium and potassium, may lead to dehydration. Depending on the ratio of water to electrolyte loss, dehydration can be classified as isotonic, hypertonic or hypotonic:

Isotonic dehydration
Is characterised by isotonic loss of both water and solutes from the extracellular fluid, that is when both water and sodium are lost in equivalent amounts, e.g. through vomiting, diarrhoea or through inadequate intake. There is no osmotic shift of water from the intracellular space to the extracellular space. This type of dehydration accounts for cases of dehydration in young children.

Hypertonic dehydration
In hypertonic dehydration water loss exceeds salt loss, that is when more water than sodium is lost (e.g. through inadequate water intake, excessive sweating, osmotic diuresis and diuretic drugs). This is characterised by an osmotic shift of water from the intracellular fluid to the extracellular fluid. This type of dehydration is more common in people who have diabetes, and it accounts for approximately 10 to 20 percent of all paediatric cases of dehydration with diarrhoea.

Hypotonic dehydration
In hypotonic dehydration more sodium than water is lost, e.g. in some instances of high sweat or gastro-intestinal water losses or when water and electrolyte deficits are treated with water replacement only, it is characterised by an osmotic shift of fluid from the extracellular area to the intracellular. It also occurs with excessive intakes of plain water or other liquids with little or no sodium content. This type of dehydration accounts for approximately 10 to 15 percent of all paediatric cases of dehydration with diarrhoea. This complication can be life-threatening if swelling causes pressure on the brain (cerebral oedema). This is called hyponatraemia.

Reminder

WHAT IS DEHYDRATION? HOW IS DEHYDRATION CAUSED? CONSEQUENCES OF DEHYDRATION