Dehydration in Children – Finding the Effective Methods of Cure
Lack of enough fluid in the body leads to dehydration and it is very common among children. It can be due to diarrhea, vomiting, reluctance to drink water or a combination of the three. Over sweating and excessive urination can also leads to dehydration.
Dehydration in Children – Causes and Symptoms
Viral infection is the primary cause of dehydration in children that leads to vomiting, diarrhea, fever and it also decreases the intake of fluid. The child hesitates to drink water or eating food due to sores in the mouth, which also leads to severe dehydration. They also avoid food due to bacterial infections such as clostridium difficile, campylobacter, Escherichia coli and salmonella. It may be also due to giardiasis, which is caused by giardia lamblia, a parasite. Sunken eyes and fontanel, sticky or dry mucous membranes, crying without tears, irritability, lethargy, etc., are the symptoms of dehydration in children. Your child needs immediate medical care if there is blood in the stool, high fever, continuous vomiting, etc.
Dehydration in Infants – Preventive Measures
Infants are more prone to dehydration than small children and adults because the fluids lose in infants more quickly than the others. If unnoticed, the dehydration in infants becomes very dangerous. Severe vomiting and diarrhea are the symptoms, which is caused by bacterial or viral infections. The symptoms of dehydration are common in infants, children and the adults. You can give other fluids like electrolytes, vegetable juices, fruits, caffeine free soda, etc., to the dehydrated infants. It is important to avoid infant milk products if the diarrhea is severe because such products contain milk sugar and the infants may not be able to digest these products during severe and prolonged diarrhea. Dehydration in infants can also be managed by giving infant rehydration products like pedialyte, ORS, Gelatin water, etc.
Baby Dehydration – Observe Closely
To maintain the health of the tissues and cells, it is important to keep fluid-salt balance in the body and dehydration upsets this balance. Generally a human body requires more than 60% water. The water requirement of the children is higher than adults because they disburse more energy. Based on the intensity of fluid lose, dehydration can be divided as mild, moderate and severe. The severe dehydration leads to physical collapse, clammy, pale, cool skin, shallow breathing and rapid heartbeat. When the temperature of the baby reaches 107 degree Fahrenheit, it leads to the damage of brain and other vital organs. If the baby dehydration is severe, it is life threatening and immediate medical care is essential.