Treating dehydration:
Dehydration should be confirmed by your doctor. Caught early, after confirming with your doctor, dehydration can usually be treated at home. Especially with children, your doctor's suggestions for treatment may vary depending on the cause and severity of the dehydration. Common treatments include:
- Mild dehydration: rehydration by drinking fluids including sports drinks, which rehydrate by providing not only fluid, but also electrolytes and salt. In children, products such as Pedialyte may be recommended as it also contains carbohydrates to help absorption in the intestinal tract. Coffee, tea, and soda should not be used for dehydration as the caffeine in them can actually be dehydrating.
- Moderate dehydration: rehydration may suffice, but IV fluids may be required.
- Severe dehydration: Immediate action must be taken, treating the situation as a medical emergency. Hospital treatment is necessary for IV fluids to rehydrate more quickly and efficiently and to allow observation.
Prevention, the best treatment:
Obviously, it's better to prevent dehydration. Here are some steps you can take:
- Drink plenty of fluids and eat foods high in water. Fruit contains the most water, followed by vegetables, meat, then grains with the least.
- Choose your beverages wisely. Caffeine and alcohol can be dehydrating. For some people, too much fruit juice can cause diarrhea, which can be dehydrating.
- If you're planning a day with more significantly exercise than usual, begin hydrating the day before.
- Sports drinks can help maintain electrolyte balance, but be aware of the sugars in them.
- Plan outdoor activities for cooler parts of the day.
- If you're organizing outdoor activities, provide shaded areas.
- When you're ill, be sure to continue drinking fluids, and get additional fluids if you have a fever or are vomiting or have diarrhea. Call your doctor for help with vomiting or diarrhea if necessary.
Summary:
Learning to prevent and to recognize dehydration are essential. Don't let dehydration ruin your fun or make you more ill. Remember to take in as much fluid as you're losing each day.
Resources:
"Dehydration Overview." MayoClinic.com.
"Dehydration and Heat Stroke."The Ohio State University Medical Center.
"Dehydration." UPMC, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center.
Worthington-Roberts, Bonnie, M.S., Ph.D. "Nutrition." Microsoft Encarta Online Encyclopedia.
Last updated May 25, 2007.
