Dehydration is a very dangerous condition and people often go unnoticed. Therefore, it is very important for you to understand the causes and symptoms of dehydration, both for yourself and for others. Dehydration can become serious enough to require medical attention, which is why knowing the causes and how to treat dehydration is so important for everyone.
Step
Part 1 of 3: Recognizing the Symptoms of Dehydration
Step 1. Learn the causes of dehydration
Dehydration can be caused by many things. Here are some of the most common examples that can lead to dehydration:
- Fever
- High ambient temperature
- Exercise too long.
- Gag
- Diarrhea
- Increased frequency of urination caused by infection
- Limited drinking water (eg in areas where the water is contaminated so that clean drinking water is very limited, or people who are in a coma who cannot consume drinking water directly).
- Injuries to the skin such as cuts or burns (because usually the distribution of water in your body is focused on the wound, so the need for water is higher)
Step 2. Recognize the symptoms of dehydration in adults, such as:
- Increased thirst
- Reduced amount of urine excreted
- Feeling confused and unfocused, and easily angry
- Weak
- Dizzy
- Diarrhea
- Dry lips
- Few tears
- A little sweat
- Heart pounding
Step 3. Recognize the symptoms of dehydration in children, such as:
- Dry mouth and lips that stick easily
- There are no / few tears that come out when crying
- Lethargic and irritable
- Eyes look sunken.
- The appearance of a soft part (or fontanelle)) that looks sunken on the top of the baby's head.
- The baby does not or only urinate a little in a period of 6-8 hours.
- Older children do not urinate for 12 hours, although there is only a small amount of solid yellow urine.
- Older kids who look tired/dizzy.
Part 2 of 3: Know What to Do if Someone is Dehydrated
Step 1. Identify whether the person is dehydrated or not
Look at the condition of the person, does he have symptoms of dehydration? Ask him about how he feels, or observe the person's condition if he can't explain the symptoms he is feeling (eg a small child or person in a coma).
There may be people around you who have symptoms of dehydration. It is possible that the person is severely dehydrated and needs your help
Step 2. Find out if the person is an old person, a child, or an adult
That way, you can determine what symptoms to watch for in the person.
Remember that dehydration is very dangerous for children and the elderly, so cases of dehydration in them should be taken very seriously
Step 3. Distinguish between mild and severe dehydration
Mild dehydration can be handled by yourself, while severe dehydration will require medical assistance to handle it.
Part 3 of 3: Knowing When to Act
Step 1. Treat mild dehydration yourself
For healthy adults, mild dehydration can be treated simply by drinking mineral water or isotonic drinks (such as Mizone, Pocari Sweat, Gatorade, etc.).
Step 2. Call the doctor
Call and ask your doctor for help if some of these symptoms occur to you: Frequent vomiting for more than one day, Fever with body temperature above 38 degrees Celsius, diarrhea for more than 2 days, weight loss, decreased urine production, dizziness, and lethargic.
Step 3. Get emergency care
Go to the hospital immediately if you experience any of the following symptoms: Fever with body temperature above 40 degrees Celsius, dizziness, fatigue and lethargy, headache, difficulty breathing, pain in the chest and abdomen, fainting, and no urine production for more than 12 hours.
Step 4. Seek medical help immediately when you find a case of severe dehydration
If you believe that someone is severely dehydrated, then act immediately. You can contact the person's doctor, take them directly to get emergency treatment at the hospital, or call an ambulance.
Warning
- Remember to always seek medical help when you find a case of severe dehydration. Get the person to the hospital as soon as possible, or at least you can call an ambulance.
- Severe dehydration is a very severe case. Treatment for people suffering from severe dehydration should be handled by professionals, unless professional assistance is not available when the person who needs the treatment is already in a critical condition.