Dehydration

Introduction 

Dehydration occurs when your body loses more fluid than you take in.

When the normal water content of your body is reduced, it upsets the balance of minerals (salts and sugar) in your body, which affects the way it functions.

Water makes up over two-thirds of the healthy human body. It lubricates the joints and eyes, aids digestion, flushes out waste and toxins, and keeps the skin healthy.

Some of the early warning signs of dehydration include:

• feeling thirsty and lightheaded
• a dry mouth
• tiredness
• having dark coloured, strong-smelling urine
• passing urine less often than usual
A baby may be dehydrated if they:
• have a sunken soft spot (fontanelle) on their head
• have few or no tears when they cry
• have fewer wet nappies
• are drowsy
The body is affected even when you lose a small amount of fluid.
What causes dehydration?
Dehydration is usually caused by not drinking enough fluid to replace what we lose. The climate, the amount of physical exercise you are doing (particularly in hot weather) and your diet can contribute to dehydration.
You can also become dehydrated as a result of an illness, such as persistent vomiting and diarrhoea, or sweating from a fever.