A condition caused by the loss of too much water from the body. Severe diarrhea or vomiting can cause dehydration.

A condition resulting from the excessive loss of water from the body. It is usually caused by severe diarrhea, vomiting or diaphoresis.

A state characterized by lower than normal levels of water in the body.

The condition that results from excessive loss of water from a living organism.

Dehydration is a condition caused by the loss of too much fluid from the body. It happens when you are losing more fluids than you are taking in, and your body does not have enough fluids to work properly. You can become dehydrated because of: Diarrhea; Vomiting; Sweating too much; Urinating too much, which can happen because of certain medicines and illnesses; Fever; Not drinking enough water or other fluids. Certain people are more likely to develop dehydration: Older adults. Some people lose their sense of thirst as they age, so they don't drink enough fluids.; Infants and young children, who are more likely to have diarrhea or vomiting; People with chronic illnesses that cause them to urinate or sweat more often, such as diabetes, cystic fibrosis, or kidney problems; People who take medicines that cause them to urinate or sweat more; People who exercise or work outdoors during hot weather. In adults, the symptoms of dehydration include: Feeling very thirsty; Dry mouth; Urinating and sweating less than usual; Dark-colored urine; Dry skin; Feeling tired; Dizziness. In infants and young children, the symptoms of dehydration include: Dry mouth and tongue; Crying without tears; No wet diapers for 3 hours or more; A high fever; Being unusually sleepy or drowsy; Irritability; Eyes that look sunken. Dehydration can be mild, or it can be severe enough to be life-threatening. Get medical help right away if the symptoms also include: Confusion; Fainting; Lack of urination; Rapid heartbeat; Rapid breathing; Shock. To find out if you dehydration, your health care provider will: Do a physical exam; Check your vital signs; Ask about your symptoms. Your provider may also order tests, such as: Blood tests to check your electrolyte levels, especially potassium and sodium. Electrolytes are minerals in your body that have an electric charge. They have many important jobs, including helping to keep a balance of fluids in your body.; Blood tests to check your kidney function.; Urine tests to check for dehydration and its cause. The treatment for dehydration is to replace the fluids and electrolytes that you have lost. For mild cases, you may just need to drink lots of water. If you lost electrolytes, sports drinks may help. There are also oral rehydration solutions for children. You can buy those without a prescription. Severe cases may be treated with intravenous (IV) fluids with salt in a hospital. The key to preventing dehydration is making sure that you get enough fluids: Drink enough water every day. Each person's needs can be different, so ask your health care provider how much you should be drinking each day.; Avoid drinks that have sugar and caffeine.; Drink extra fluids when the weather is hot, especially if you are exercising or working outside. If you are losing a lot of minerals in sweat, sports drinks can help you. But some sports drinks have lots of sugar, so be careful not to drink too much of them.; Get extra fluids when you are sick. If you are having trouble keeping liquids down, you can try taking small sips of water or sucking on ice chips.

(body water dehydration) Condition that results from excessive loss of water from a living organism.

A disorder characterized by excessive loss of water from the body. It is usually caused by severe diarrhea, vomiting or diaphoresis.

Dehydration is a deficiency of water in the body. Vomiting, diarrhea, excessive sweating, burns, kidney failure, and use of diuretics may cause dehydration.

Dehydration describes a state of negative fluid balance that may be caused by numerous disease entities. Diarrheal illnesses are the most common etiologies.

Dehydration occurs when you use or lose more fluid than you take in, and your body doesn't have enough water and other fluids to carry out its normal functions. If you don't replace lost fluids, you will get dehydrated.

Dehydration, loss of water from the body; it is almost invariably associated with some loss of salt (sodium chloride) as well. The treatment of any form of dehydration, therefore, requires not only the replacement of the water lost from the body but also the restoration of the normal concentration...