In the absence of treatment, a shock is possible. The syndrome of dehydration is quite common in children and can quickly progress, especially in hot weather or in gastrointestinal disorders with vomiting and diarrhea. In such cases, an urgent need to fill the deficiency of fluid and electrolytes (salts) in the body. What is this disease, find out in the article on "Dehydration of the body and ways to overcome it."
Causes of dehydration
Causes of severe dehydration may include:
- irofuznaya vomiting and / or diarrhea;
- very hot weather;
- high fever with increased sweating;
- great physical activity without drinking;
- burns.
Diagnosis of dehydration
Depending on the degree of dehydration, the patient has a certain complex of clinical symptoms. Signs of dehydration include:
- thirst, dry mouth and headache;
- decrease in the volume of excreted urine;
- pallor and dryness of the skin;
- ophthalmology of the eyes; in infants it is possible to masturbate the fontanelles (spaces between the bones of the skull);
- decrease in blood pressure, increased heart rate and respiration.
After establishing the system of intravenous infusion, it is necessary to find out the cause of dehydration and carefully monitor the patient's condition.
Recovery
With the feces of replenishment of fluid volume, the patient quickly goes on to recover. In a child with confusion due to dehydration, intensive therapy leads to a rapid disappearance of symptoms. Patients regularly measure blood pressure and pulse to ensure the restoration of the normal state of the circulatory system and the effectiveness of therapy for hypovolemia (decrease in blood volume), which is the result of dehydration. If the patient is in serious condition, a central venous catheter may be required. This system serves not only for the infusion of solutions, but also for measuring the pressure in the right atrium - central venous pressure, which gives an idea of the degree of hydration of the body.
Physical signs
Indicators of the patient's condition are the amount and color of urine. With the restoration of normal blood flow in the organs and activation of the kidneys, urine output increases, which becomes less concentrated. In infants, fontanels again acquire elasticity, and the skin - elasticity. After emergence from the crisis, the patient begins to take the liquid inside. With a satisfactory overall condition, the patient can avoid intravenous infusion of solutions by taking the liquid inside. Preparations for oral rehydration are widely used, especially in children with diarrhea.
Supportive therapy
Even after the end of the intravenous infusion, it is necessary to continue taking the liquid inside. The doctor's recommendations for hospitalization are as follows:
- If there are symptoms of dehydration, drink at least 500 ml of fluid every hour.
- Especially suitable for the correction of dehydration is mineral water without gas and weak sweet tea.
- Some liquids, such as coffee and alcohol, are not recommended to fill the deficit, as they stimulate the release of urine, exacerbating the problem.
If the patient is able to drink, the most effective way to replenish the volume of fluid in the body is the intake of salt solutions. In developing countries, preparations for oral rehydration saved the lives of many children with severe diarrhea, for example, with cholera. These solutions serve as a source of much needed for the patient:
- water;
- sodium chloride (salt);
- potassium chloride (minerals);
- glucose (sugar).
With severe dehydration due to diarrhea, a certain amount of glucose-brine solution (depending on age and weight) should be taken after each defecation. Now we know what dehydration is and how to overcome it with the help of proper treatment.