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Dehydration - Medical Negligence Compensation
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Dehydration is a condition where there is more fluid lost in the body than is taken in. It can be caused by excess fluid loss or inadequate fluid gain. There can be serious complications to the organs if dehydration is severe or is allowed to persist.
Dehydration can be managed in most cases by increasing fluid intake. In severe cases, however, IV fluids and medical management is needed. As for prevention, you should drink plenty of fluids during exercise, febrile illnesses or hot weather. You need to replace the amount of fluid that you lose in the course of a day.
Symptoms of mild to moderate dehydration include having a dry mouth or a sticky mouth, being thirsty, having fatigue, having decreased urine output, having muscle weakness, having few tears when crying, having a headache or feeling lightheaded or dizzy.
Severe dehydration includes the following symptoms: fussiness in infants or irritability in adults; extreme thirstiness; having a dry mouth; not sweating; having no urine output; having sunken eyes; having skin that doesn't bounce back when pinched; having low blood pressure; having a rapid heartbeat or a fever, or being unconscious.
It is best to gauge the color of the urine to note whether or not there is enough fluid in the body. In children and older people, the degree of thirst does not always play a big role in determining whether or not you have extreme dehydration. Dark amber or dark yellow urine signifies dehydration.
You lose 2.5 liters of water every day just by sweating, breathing off liquid or eliminating waste every day. Minerals such as sodium, calcium and potassium are lost along with water. These can be replaced through the food you eat and through electrolyte replacement drinks.
Dehydration causes include diarrhea and vomiting, especially when acute diarrhea is severe. In fact, dehydration of this type is the leading cause of death in children throughout the world. Fever can increase the amount of fluids lost in the system and excessive sweating can play a role. Increased urination or a type of diabetes called diabetes insipidus can cause excessive urination and excessive thirst. Burns can increase the degree of fluid loss through the tissues. Dehydration is common in severe burns.
In infants and children, diarrhea is the main cause of dehydration. This is because the food and water supplies worldwide aren't clean enough and bacteria or parasites live in the drinking water. Older adults are more susceptible to dehydration because they can't conserve water as well as young people and they have a decreased ability to sense when they are thirsty. Adults who are elderly tend to drink and eat much less than young people so they have less fluid intake overall.
Those with chronic illnesses, such as diabetes, can easily get dehydrated. Kidney disease patients, alcoholics and those with cystic fibrosis are at greater risk for dehydration. Certain adrenal gland diseases contribute to dehydration. Athletes who participate in endurance sports are at risk for dehydration because they don't drink enough to make up for sweat losses. Such sports enthusiasts can lose up to a quart of fluid per hour, depending on their level of exercise. If you live above 8000 feet elevation, you are at risk for dehydration due to increased urination and rapid breathing.
Complications of dehydration include brain swelling or cerebral edema caused by an imbalance between electrolytes in the brain and the rest of the tissues. Seizures are uncommon but can happen in dehydration and you can suffer from hypovolemic shock or low blood pressure from a lack of fluid in the body. Kidney failure is common and there can be coma and death if the problem remains severe.
The doctor can diagnose dehydration using blood and urine testing. The urine will have a high specific gravity, indicating a highly concentrated urine. Blood tests may show elevated sodium levels and chloride levels. Liver or kidney tests can determine the cause of the dehydration.
Treating dehydration can happen with taking oral electrolyte solution that replenishes both fluid and electrolytes in the body. There can be IV fluid replacement with sodium in the IV fluid.