Signs of mild to moderate dehydration include thirst, dry or sticky mouth, crying unaccompanied by tears, infrequent urination, dark yellow urine, skin that feels dry and cool, headache, and muscle cramps. Signs of severe dehydration include sunken eyes, lethargy, irritability, fatigue, dizziness, rapid pulse, and unconsciousness. A sunken soft spot on top of an infant’s head is another sign of severe dehydration.
Oral rehydration solutions provide balanced doses of water and salts, so they rehydrate while simultaneously replenishing lost electrolytes. Note that room temperature fluids might be easiest to swallow, especially if your child is vomiting or nauseous.
For formula-fed babies suffering with diarrhea, switch to a lactose-free formula until symptoms improve. Lactose can be difficult to digest and may worsen the diarrhea, thereby worsening the dehydration, too. Do not dilute formula any further than the instructions or your doctor advise. You may need to alternate both oral rehydration solution and breastmilk/formula. Consider giving your baby a sip of oral rehydration solution each time you offer them a bottle of breastmilk or formula.
Plain water can actually be dangerous when a child is dehydrated. The body loses salts and minerals during dehydration, and plain water can dilute this already low concentration of essential minerals even further. Similarly, sports drinks replenish lost electrolytes, but only those lost through sweating. If your child is dehydrated due to diarrhea or vomiting, sports drinks will not be able to replenish the minerals they have lost.
Increase the amount of fluids your child drinks while they’re ill, especially if they suffer with diarrhea or vomiting. Breastmilk and formula are best for infants. Cold water, popsicles, diluted juice, and ice chips are best for older children. Avoid foods that may make vomiting and dehydration worse. These include fatty foods, foods high in sugar, lean meats, complex carbohydrates, yogurt, fruits, and vegetables. Fevers and sore throats can make it more difficult for children to intake fluids, so children suffering with these symptoms may also be given acetaminophen or ibuprofen.
Adults with mild to moderate dehydration may experience increased thirst, a dry or sticky mouth, difficulty urinating, dark yellow urine, skin that feels dry or cool to the touch, headaches, and muscle cramps. Adults experiencing severe dehydration will likely have a lack of urination, amber-colored urine, shriveled skin, irritability, confusion, dizziness, rapid pulse, rapid breathing, sunken eyes, listlessness, shock, delirium, or unconsciousness.
Most adults need between 2 and 3 quarts (2 and 3 liters) of fluids per day. If you’re dehydrated due to nausea or a sore throat, try sucking on ice chips or popsicles made from juices and sports drinks. Electrolyte imbalance is not as grave a danger in adults as it is in children, but it’s still something worth noting. Consider drinking oral rehydration solutions or sports drinks to help replenish some of the electrolytes your body loses when it becomes dehydrated. Oral rehydration solutions are best if you’re dehydrated due to illness, but sports drinks work well if you’re dehydrated due to overexertion.
Remove excess clothing and loosen necessary clothing so that it doesn’t smother the skin. Sit in a cool area. Move into an air-conditioned building if possible. If this isn’t possible, sit in the shade outdoors or sit near an electric fan indoors. Cool your skin with water. Place a wet towel around your neck or on your forehead. Mist your exposed skin with lukewarm water using a spray bottle. Note that the cooling process must happen gradually. Exposure to excessive cold can cause the blood vessels to body to shiver, thereby raising its internal temperature. For this reason, do not attempt to use ice packs or ice water to cool your skin.
In many cases, over-the-counter loperamide can control diarrhea. Do not use this medication if you have a fever or if there is blood mixed in with the diarrhea, however. Use acetaminophen instead of ibuprofen for help controlling any fever you might have. Ibuprofen can irritate the stomach lining and may make vomiting worse. Stick with clear fluids, including broths and gelatins, for the first 24 hours. As the vomiting and diarrhea subside, gradually reintroduce bland foods back into your diet.
Water is important, but these recommendations refer to the overall amount of necessary fluid and not the necessary amount of plain water. That being said, certain beverages are better than others. Water, herbal tea, juice, sports drinks, and other electrolyte beverages will help hydrate you, but drinks with caffeine (coffee, soda, black tea) or alcohol can actually make dehydration worse.
Bananas are a notably excellent choice. The water content of a banana can be as high as 75 percent, and they’re also rich in potassium, a mineral that tends to decrease as dehydration worsens. Additional fruits and vegetables worth consuming for the sake of hydration include watermelon, tomatoes, grapes, peaches, cantaloupe, strawberries, cranberries, apples, blackberries, apricots, cucumbers, broccoli, and zucchini.
Chamomile tea is considered to be a natural pain reliever, which is one main it is recognized as a powerful treatment for dehydration. As the body becomes dehydrated, stomach muscles may begin cramping. Chamomile tea is an effective way to rehydrate the body while treating those cramps.
Among other nutrients, it contains notable amounts of iron and potassium. Both of these nutrients tend to be depleted as the body grows more dehydrated. Note that coconut water is different from coconut milk. For the sake of curing dehydration, coconut water is the better option of the two.
Your body can absorb magnesium from the bathwater through the skin, which may reduce any inflammation, fatigue, or soreness caused by chronic dehydration. [9] X Research source The sulfates in the salt water can also aid in your body’s ability to absorb nutrients, which may make it easier for your body to correct its electrolyte levels.
Dehydration that doesn’t improve can quickly become severe. You or your child needs immediate treatment.
You can recover if you get immediate treatment, so try not to worry. However, it’s essential that you see a doctor right away.
This means you may be vomiting up what you drink or may be struggling to drink anything at all.
Every time you have diarrhea, your body releases fluids along with your bowel movement. That means you need to be taking in extra fluids while you’re recovering.
Sometimes IV fluids can be lifesaving when it comes to dehydration. Additionally, an IV can relieve your symptoms quickly.
