Fact Checked
Overview
- A kid can become dehydrated either because they lost a lot of bodily fluids or because they aren’t consuming sufficient liquids.
- If dehydration goes on for an extensive period of time or is extremely bad, it can be a serious. Your child may need medical evaluation and treatment.
Causes of Dehydration
- Gastroenteritis is the most widespread reason for dehydration as it can make your kid lose a lot of fluids rapidly.
- Any disorder where there’s constant diarrhoea, nausea or reduced fluid consumption, can cause dehydration.
- If your child is reluctant to consume liquids for any reason, they could also become dehydrated.
- Extreme sweating can also cause dehydration, mainly in babies in very humid weather, or in teenage kids who are doing vigorous action.
Symptoms of Dehydration
A young child who’s dehydrated will urinate less frequently.
Your child:
- Will appear thin and pale
- Will often be exhausted and tired
- May have less tears due to lack of fluids
- May be parched.
Furthermore, your child’s:
- Eyes may look drawn and gloomy
- Mouth and tongue will be encrusted and dry.
Visiting your GP
See your GP if:
- Nausea and diarrhoea continues
- You’re concerned.
Treatment of Dehydration
- You can manage milder cases of dehydration by providing your child with more water.
- Liquids have to be given in tiny amounts, but regularly.
- In more serious cases, your child may need hospital support to help them rebuild their loss of fluids.
- In a lot of cases, the most secure and quickest way to do this is by placing a tiny tube into the nose and then through to the tummy, through which re-hydrating liquids can be provided.
- Sometimes, liquids must be given intravenously (straight into the vein). This means your kid will have to go into hospital.