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Dehydration

Under normal conditions, we all lose some body water every day in our sweat, tears, urine, and stool. Water also evaporates from our skin and leaves the body as vapor when we breathe. We usually replace this body fluid and the salts it contains with the water and salts in our regular diet.

Sometimes, however, kids lose abnormally large amounts of water and salts through fever (more water evaporates from the body when body temperature is increased), diarrhea, vomiting, or long periods of exercise with excessive sweating. Some illnesses might also prevent them from taking fluids by mouth. If they're unable to adequately replace the fluid that's been lost, kids can become dehydrated.

Recognizing Dehydration

If your child has fever, diarrhea, or vomiting, or is sweating a lot on a hot day or during intense physical activity, you should watch for signs of dehydration, which can include:

* dry or sticky mouth
* few or no tears when crying
* eyes that look sunken into the head
* soft spot (fontanelle) on top of baby's head that looks sunken
* lack of urine or wet diapers for 6 to 8 hours in an infant (or only a very small amount of dark yellow urine)
* lack of urine for 12 hours in an older child (or only a very small amount of dark yellow urine)
* dry, cool skin
* lethargy or irritability
* fatigue or dizziness in an older child
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