Infant Dehydration

Dehydration is excessive loss of fluid from the body. When a human suffers from dehydration, it is caused, due to loss of water and electrolytes from the body. Although the name suggests loss of water, we humans lose water and electrolytes in equal quantities. Dehydration in adults and infants may be caused due to different reasons, however, in this article we will concentrate on infant dehydration.

Symptoms of Dehydration in Infants

The signs of dehydration in babies include:

• The first and primary sign of dehydration in an infant is no urination for 6 hours or more.
• If the urine is darker in color and also smells stronger than usual, it is a sign that the infant is dehydrated.
• If you notice, that the baby has dry, sticky mouth and lips, it is a sign that the baby is dehydrated.
• You would also want to observe the baby, when he is crying. If the baby sheds few or no tears, take it as a cue of dehydration.
• The baby may seem lethargic, when he is dehydrated.
• If the baby has fever, he may also be dehydrated.
• When the baby is cranky and sleepy, there are chances that the baby may be dehydrated.
• If you ever notice, that the baby has sunken eyes, do not forget, it can also be a sign of severe dehydration.
• Cold hands and feet can also indicate severe dehydration.

Infant Dehydration Causes

Fever is one of the most common cause of dehydration in infants. Our skin is structured to release evaporated water. When the infant has fever, the body temperature rises, which leads to evaporation of extra water from the skin. You will also notice, that the infant may also sweat a lot during this time. To state facts, when the body temperature rises above 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit, the infant loses 12.5% of the body fluid for every degree of rise.

After fever, diarrhea is the most common cause of dehydration. Infants are known to suffer from gastroenteritis, also known as stomach flu. There is a lot of fluid loss in the form of stools, when the infant suffers from diarrhea. Like diarrhea, vomiting also leads to loss of body fluids. If the infant is not able to keep the meal down, then a lot of fluid is lost through vomits. In the months of summer, if the temperatures rise above normal, chances are high that the infant will lose body fluids through sweat and water evaporation.

Treating Dehydration in Babies

If the infant suffers from any of the conditions mentioned above, you will have to take measures for preventing dehydration. The treatment for infant dehydration will vary depending on the cause of the problem. Let's see, how to treat dehydration in infants.

If the child is dehydrated due to fever, then feed the baby with a lot of fluids. It can be in the form of breast milk or formula milk. Sometimes, the baby may not be able to swallow the fluid due to discomfort, then you will have to talk to the pediatrician and give the child some medication to relieve the child of the discomfort.

Dehydration, caused either by vomiting or diarrhea, causes quick loss of body fluids. In both the cases, the child will have to be fed with electrolytes to arrest further depletion of fluids from the body. In case the baby does not stop vomiting or continues to have diarrhea for more than 3 hours, then you may want to seek medical help. A few sips of electrolyte can be fed to the infant every half an hour. If, after the electrolyte solution the baby does not vomit for 4 hours or more, then you can feed the baby with breast milk or formula milk. Gradually, you can increase the quantity of feeding.

If dehydration is caused, due to overheating, then shift the infant immediately to a cooler place. At the same time, feed a lot of fluids to the baby to make up for all the bodily fluid, that the baby has lost. If the child does feed on fruit juices, then you can also dilute fruit juices and give it to the baby.

Take the appropriate measures to reduce the condition causing dehydration, as well as dehydration. After all the measures, if you still notice that your baby is dehydrated, then do not waste any time and take your baby to the pediatrician. There can be something else, that is causing the problem in the infant.