Pregnancy SmartSiteTM

Skip Navigation Schedule An Appointment

Normal Pregnancy

Staying Healthy

Alcohol and pregnancy Managing your weight gain in pregnancy Steps to take before you get pregnant When you need to gain more weight during pregnancy

What to expect during pregnancy

Aches and pains during pregnancy Choosing the right practitioner Common symptoms during pregnancy Hyperemesis Gravidarum Morning sickness Pregnancy and travel Pregnancy and work Problems sleeping during pregnancy Skin and hair changes during pregnancy Teenage pregnancy

Preparing to go home with your baby

Cribs and crib safety Eat right during pregnancy Preparing your other children

Visits and Tests

Amniocentesis Chorionic villus sampling Genetic counseling before pregnancy Glucose tolerance test-pregnancy Monitoring your baby before labor Nuchal translucency Prenatal care in your first trimester Prenatal care in your second trimester Prenatal care in your third trimester

Dehydration

Definition

Dehydration occurs when your body does not have as much water and fluids as it needs.

Dehydration can be mild, moderate, or severe, based on how much of your body's fluid is lost or not replaced. Severe dehydration is a life-threatening emergency.

Causes

You can become dehydrated if you lose too much fluid, do not drink enough water or fluids, or both.

Your body may lose a lot of fluid from:

  • Sweating too much, for example, from exercising in hot weather
  • Fever
  • Vomiting or diarrhea
  • Urinating too much (uncontrolled diabetes or some medicines, like diuretics, can cause you to urinate a lot)

    • You might not drink enough fluids because:

  • You do not feel like eating or drinking because you are sick
  • You are nauseated
  • You have a or

    • Older adults and people with certain diseases, such as diabetes, are also at higher risk for dehydration.

    Symptoms

    Signs of mild to moderate dehydration include:

  • Thirst
  • Dry or sticky mouth
  • Not urinating much
  • Darker yellow urine
  • Dry, cool skin
  • Headache
  • Muscle cramps

    • Signs of severe dehydration include:

  • Not urinating, or very dark yellow or amber-colored urine
  • Dry, shriveled skin
  • Irritability or confusion
  • Dizziness or lightheadedness
  • Rapid heartbeat
  • Rapid breathing
  • Sunken eyes
  • Listlessness
  • Shock (not enough blood flow through the body)
  • Unconsciousness or delirium

    • Exams and Tests

    Your health care provider will look for these signs of dehydration:

  • .
  • Blood pressure that drops when you stand up after lying down.
  • White finger tips that do not return to a pink color .
  • . When the provider pinches it into a fold, it may slowly sag back into place. Normally, skin springs back right away.
  • .

    • Your provider may do lab tests such as:

  • Blood tests to check
  • to see what may be causing dehydration
  • Other tests to see what may be causing dehydration ()

    • Treatment

    To treat dehydration:

  • Try sipping water or sucking on ice cubes.
  • Try drinking water or sports drinks that contain electrolytes.
  • Do not take salt tablets. They can cause serious complications.
  • Ask your provider .

    • For more severe dehydration or , you may need to stay in a hospital and receive fluid through a vein (IV). The provider will also treat the cause of the dehydration.

    Dehydration caused by a should get better on its own after a few days.

    Outlook (Prognosis)

    If you notice signs of dehydration and treat it quickly, you should recover completely.

    Possible Complications

    Untreated severe dehydration may cause:

  • Death
  • Permanent brain damage

    • When to Contact a Medical Professional

    You should call 911 or the local emergency number if:

  • The person loses consciousness at any time.
  • There is any other change in the person's alertness (for example, confusion or seizures).
  • The person has a fever over 102°F (38.8°C).
  • You notice symptoms of heatstroke (such as rapid pulse or rapid breathing).
  • The person's condition does not improve or gets worse despite treatment.

    • Prevention

    To prevent dehydration:

  • Drink plenty of fluids every day, even when you are well. Drink more when the weather is hot or you are exercising.
  • If anyone in your family is ill, pay attention to how much they are able to drink. Pay close attention to children and older adults.
  • Anyone with a fever, vomiting, or diarrhea should drink plenty of fluids. DO NOT wait for signs of dehydration.
  • If you think you or someone in your family may become dehydrated, call your provider. Do this before the person becomes dehydrated.

    • References

    Kenefick RW, Cheuvront SN, Leon LR, O'Brien KK. Dehydration and rehydration. In: Auerbach PS, Cushing TA, Harris NS, eds. Auerbach's Wilderness Medicine. 7th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2017:chap 89.

    Padlipsky P, White W. Pediatric infectious diarrheal disease and dehydration. In: Walls RM, ed. Rosen's Emergency Medicine: Concepts and Clinical Practice. 10th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2023:chap 167.

    Schedule An Appointment

    Contact Atlanta Obsetrics and Gynaecology at The Womens Center Millennium Hospital - 404-ATL-BABY

    GO

    Review Date: 8/5/2023

    Reviewed By: Neil K. Kaneshiro, MD, MHA, Clinical Professor of Pediatrics, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.