As a parent, you will experience more pain than your child when they are unwell, not eating, drinking, or playing normally. In today’s world, dehydration has become one of the common and inevitable issues in kids. This condition develops rapidly, primarily among newborns and children, and it is essential to recognize it in its early stages. Further, let’s have a closer look at what dehydration is, why kids are more prone to it, the signs and causes of dehydration, and when to manage dehydration at home vs when to rush to the hospital.
What is dehydration?
In dehydration an individual’s body will lose more water than it takes. These fluids are responsible for maintaining a baby’s body temperature, normal body functions, transporting nutrients, and eliminating waste from their body. Dehydration happens quickly in kids, when compared to adults, because:
- Their bodies are composed of more water.
- Through vomiting and diarrhea, fluids will be easily lost from the kid’s body.
- Especially, they can’t tell how they actually feel inside.
So whenever your kids are facing dehydration, take them to the best children’s hospital in Coimbatore to rehydrate them.
Why are kids more vulnerable to dehydration?
Infants and toddlers are at risk for dehydration because:
- They have smaller fluid reserves.
- Lack of communication about their thirst.
- They will not drink water when they are sick.
- During illness, they may lose fluids quickly.
This is mainly due to their bodies still developing, and even mild dehydration becomes more serious in young children.
What actually causes dehydration?
Being aware of what causes dehydration will help you stay cautious. The main culprits of dehydration include:
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Diarrhea:
Diarrhea remains the main cause of dehydration in kids, notably during infections. When stools are frequently lost, eventually fluid and electrolyte loss will also occur.
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Vomiting:
Vomiting multiple times will prevent fluid intake and cause rapid loss of water and minerals.
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Fever:
With each degree of fever, the kid’s body will make use of more water through sweating and faster metabolism.
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Excessive heat and sweating:
Kids playing outdoors and failing to drink sufficient water will quickly get dehydrated.
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Illness or infection:
Viral infections like the flu or other hand-foot-and-mouth disease will reduce the appetite and fluid intake.
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Poor feeding of infants:
In babies, issues with breastfeeding or bottle feeding due to illness, tongue-tie, or nasal congestion will result in inadequate fluid intake.
What are the signs of dehydration in infants?
Simply, the key lies in recognizing dehydration on time, because it makes all the difference.
The symptoms of mild dehydration include:
- Dry lips and mouth
- Thirst
- Less frequent urination
- Dark yellowish urine
- Irritability or tiredness
- Dry skin
- Cheeks and eyes will be sunken
- Slightly sunken soft spots in infants
The common symptoms of severe dehydration in children include:
- No tears when crying
- Not urinating often and urinating very less
- Sunken fontanelle
- Cold, blotchy hands and feet
- Fast breathing or heartbeat
- Lethargy or extreme sleepiness
- Dizziness or confusion
- Skin that doesn’t bounce back when pinched
- In rare cases, seizures
When should I be worried about my kids’ dehydration?
As mentioned above, you should be worried about your kids’ dehydration when they are showing signs like dry mouth, sunken eyes, not getting tears when crying, or significantly wet diapers or no urination for more than 8 hours in older kids. Also, look for extreme tiredness, fussiness, cold hands and feet, or if your child is unusually sleepy or hard to wake.
In case they are vomiting often, having ongoing diarrhea, a high fever, or trouble consuming fluids, dehydration can worsen quickly and require medical attention. Also, severe dehydration may result in a life-threatening condition if not treated properly. Listen to your instinct if something feels off, it’s better to consult a pediatrician or go to the nearest hospital. Timely intervention can prevent serious complications and assist your child in recovering faster.
When should I take my children to the hospital to get treatment for dehydration?
You should be aware of when to take your kids to the hospital to get treatment for dehydration. Parents should consider taking their kids to the hospital or the emergency room immediately if:
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They show signs of severe dehydration:
Some of the above-mentioned signs, like no urination, sunken eyes, confusion, lethargy, or cold extremities, require immediate medical help.
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Drinks more or less liquids:
In case your child vomits up everything you feed them or refuses to drink water for several hours, it’s a prompt sign they can’t stay hydrated on their own.
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There’s persistent diarrhea or vomiting:
In case vomiting lasts over 24 hours or diarrhea for more than 2 days, notably if the stool is bloody, your child may be losing fluids too quickly to replace at home.
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Having a high fever:
A fever more than 102°F that doesn’t go away with medication or is accompanied by dehydration symptoms is a red flag.
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They’re less than 1 year of age:
As mentioned above, dehydration progresses faster in kids. In case they are not feeding well or wetting less than 6 diapers a day, it’s a prompt sign to get medical help.
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There’s a change in mental status:
In case your child becomes unusually drowsy, difficult to wake, confused, or irritable beyond normal, don’t wait and rush to the hospital immediately.
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Underlying medical conditions:
If your baby has other underlying conditions such as diabetes, renal disease, or other complex issues, dehydration will worsen their condition.
What kind of treatment will my child get in the hospital for dehydration?
Once after reach out to the hospital, doctors will assess your child’s hydration level by performing:
- Physical exam (checking skin turgor, heart rate, and breathing).
- Monitoring urine output.
- In severe cases, they will take blood tests or electrolyte levels.
The common treatment options include:
- Oral rehydration solution (ORS): In case your child is alert and not vomiting, they may be given small amounts of ORS frequently.
- IV fluids: From moderate to severe dehydration or in case your child can’t keep anything down, intravenous fluids will be administered.
- Treating the underlying cause: They will give medications for dehydration and fever in children based on the root cause.
Typically, kids will recover quickly once the fluid balance is restored.
What are the ways to manage mild dehydration at home?
If your child is mildly dehydrated and still alert and drinking water, you can manage their dehydration at home:
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Use oral rehydration solutions (ORS):
Certain products are designed with the right balance of water, salt, and sugar, so you can use them and avoid sugary drinks, sodas, or plain water for infants.
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Offer frequent sips:
Consider giving small amounts more often for every 5 to 10 minutes, instead of large gulps, because this might trigger vomiting.
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Continue feeding:
If breastfeeding or bottle-feeding, continue as tolerated. In older children, bland foods such as rice, toast, and banana can assist once vomiting stops.
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Monitor wet diapers and urination:
This is a prompt sign of recovery. A hydrated child will urinate very often, that is, urinating once every 3 to 4 hours.
Can I prevent dehydration in children?
Further, let’s see how to keep your child hydrated, notably during illness or hot weather:
- Keep ORS at home: Always have a ready packet with you.
- Practice frequent drinking: Even when they are not asking for fluids, offer some fluids or water often.
- Dress lightly in hot weather: Because heavy clothes may overheat their body.
- Avoid sugary or caffeinated drinks: These will worsen dehydration.
- Look for early signs: Act promptly when noticing symptoms like dry lips, irritability, or reduced urination.
- Feed during illness: Even when their appetite is low, give them some fluids, soups, and also try breastfeeding them.
Are there any faster ways to relieve dehydration in a baby?
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Use medicine droppers or a syringe for feeding fluids:
For babies who resist drinking from a bottle or spoon when they are sick, a sterile medicine dropper or syringe can assist you in gradually administering fluids in tiny amounts without overwhelming them.
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Cool-mist humidifier:
Running a cool-mist humidifier in the newborn’s room will assist in preventing fluid loss through dry skin and soothe respiratory discomfort, encouraging better feeding and hydration.
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Frozen breast milk popsicles for older kids:
In case your baby is over 6 months and teething, frozen breast milk or ORS popsicles can be soothing and hydrating, notably during fever or mouth sores.
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Probiotic drops, only when prescribed by healthcare providers:
Probiotics can reduce the diarrhea duration in a few babies, assist in minimizing fluid loss, and improve gut recovery, supporting hydration indirectly.
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Skin-to-skin contact:
Skin-to-skin bonding calms babies, promotes better suckling, and encourages feeding, including aiding hydration when they are cranky or ill.
Will the baby cry when dehydrated?
Of course, a baby may cry when dehydrated, but this sounds quite strange, like weak, whiny, or less energy than usual. At the beginning of dehydration, babies become fussy or irritable due to discomfort from thirst or illness. Also, when dehydration worsens, kids will become quiet or lethargic instead of crying. One of the key signs is crying without tears, which highlights a lack of fluid in the body.
Further, you will also notice dry mouth, dry lips, and fewer wet diapers. A few babies will also refuse to feed, which worsens dehydration. It’s crucial to observe your baby’s overall behavior, like excessive sleepiness, lack of interest in surroundings, or difficulty waking, which may be more concerning than crying alone. In case your baby looks unusually fussy or is not crying like they normally do, it’s a great idea to consult the best pediatrician doctor in Coimbatore, especially when witnessing other signs of dehydration.
What’s not to feed my baby when they are dehydrated?
When your baby is dehydrated, you should not feed them fruit juices, sodas, sugary drinks, or any sports drinks because those drinks can worsen diarrhea and increase fluid loss. Also, you should avoid giving cow’s milk to babies who are less than one year of age, notably when they are vomiting or have diarrhea, because it can be hard to digest.
Also, avoid offering plain water to babies under 6 months, because it may dilute those crucial salts in their bodies. Stay away from salty or spicy foods for older babies starting solids, because this could irritate their stomach. You can feed your babies with your breast milk and stick to your healthcare provider’s advice. These offer a proper balance of fluids and electrolytes to assist your baby in recovering safely and quickly.
Final thoughts:
In conclusion, we can say that dehydration in kids will escalate so easily and become a medical emergency. As a parent, being aware of when to look out for and when to head to the hospital will make all the difference in your child’s recovery from dehydration. In case you are in doubt, especially with infants or young toddlers, don’t hesitate to get help. Also, you need to understand that just a quick hospital visit may not help rehydrate your child, but also identify underlying illness before it becomes serious. Simply, stay alert and prepared, especially if you have a newborn or toddlers, to avoid them from developing some other serious health issues.
