Dehydration treatment, diagnosis & prescriptions

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Consultations work similarly to in-person appointments — the doctor can complete an assessment by asking questions about your symptoms, going through your health history, and determining what treatment is right for you. If they think your condition is more serious, they may tell you to go to a clinic for an in-person examination.

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Yes, you can. The healthcare practitioner will want to perform a physical exam as well as discuss your symptoms or signs of dehydration.

The healthcare practitioner may also suggest additional testing be performed before offering a dehydration diagnosis to check for potential underlying conditions that could be causing dehydration.

If your dehydration is caused by an underlying condition, dehydration treatments may not be as effective as treating the condition causing your dehydration.

Dehydration occurs when your body is losing more fluids than it’s consuming. This lack of water impedes your body’s ability to perform its normal functions.

This condition can happen to anyone but it’s particularly dangerous when it occurs in older adults and young children.

Untreated severe dehydration can lead to some potentially life-threatening conditions, including:

• Kidney failure
• Heat cramps
• Low blood volume
• Heatstroke or heat exhaustion
• Seizures
• Coma

Contrary to popular belief, thirst isn’t always an accurate indicator of when your body needs more water. Some people don’t feel thirsty until after they’re already dehydrated (particularly older adults).

The symptoms or signs of dehydration can also vary depending on the age of the person affected.

For infants or young children that can’t express their feelings clearly, some signs of dehydration to watch for include:

• A sunken soft spot on top of their skulls
• No wet diapers for more than three hours
• A dry tongue or mouth
• Crying without tears
• Sunken cheeks or eyes
• Irritability
• Listlessness

In adults, the dehydration symptoms can range from mild to severe depending on the level of the dehydration.

Some common mild signs of dehydration include:

• Dry skin
• Dizziness or lightheadedness
• Constipation
• Less urine being produced
• Less tears while crying
• Increased thirst
• Dry mouth
• Headache

In many cases, dehydration is caused by not drinking enough water due to factors such as illness or having a busy lifestyle.

Drinking excessive amounts of alcohol is known to cause dehydration as well because alcohol is a diuretic. Taking most diuretics without drinking enough fluids can potentially cause dehydration.

Also, dehydration is commonly the result of performing strenuous physical activities outdoors, especially without access to safe drinking water.

However, there are some dehydration causes result from other conditions, such as:

• Fever
• Diarrhea
• Vomiting
• Increased urination
• Excessive sweating

When these dehydration symptoms are brought on by other conditions or illnesses, treating the underlying cause may be necessary to prevent further dehydration.

Often, a healthcare practitioner can offer a dehydration diagnosis based on the physical signs and symptoms.

If you’re dehydrated, you may have low blood pressure – particularly while moving from lying down to standing. The healthcare practitioner may want to monitor your blood pressure while you change positions, to check for this sign of dehydration.

As well, to assist in providing a clear dehydration diagnosis, the healthcare practitioner may suggest a urinalysis or blood tests be performed. This will help pinpoint the severity and determine the cause of your dehydration.

The most effective dehydration treatment involves replacing lost fluids as well as lost electrolytes. Drinking lots of water or sports drinks that include electrolytes and carbohydrate solutions are good for helping to rehydrate.

For young children, the healthcare provider may suggest over-the-counter oral rehydration solutions that will help replenish both fluids and electrolytes. These come in liquid, popcycle or freeze pop forms, although some young children may require liquids given by spoon or syringe.

If you believe that you could be showing signs of dehydration, the first thing you should try to do is rehydrate.

If your dehydration symptoms persist, it’s a good idea to talk to your healthcare practitioner. There could be an underlying dehydration cause that may require treatment, before your condition will improve.

The healthcare provider will also be able to suggest additional testing to help provide a more accurate dehydration diagnosis and precipitating cause.

In cases where you believe you could be severely dehydrated, you should seek immediate medical attention.