Dehydration develops when the excretion of water exceeds its intake into the body, which is called a negative water balance. This can be when the water intake is disturbed or increased water loss, or a combination of these conditions (Tintinalli et al, 2019). Dehydration has severe consequences associated with decreased circulating blood volume and increased viscosity, which can cause severe circulatory disorders and collapse (Tintinalli et al, 2019). Circulatory disorders lead to the development of tissue hypoxia, which primarily affects the central nervous system.
Dehydration is especially difficult for children. This is due to the high content of the extracellular fluid in children, low concentration capacity of the kidneys, the increased relative surface area of the skin, increased respiration rate, and imperfect regulation of water-electrolyte homeostasis (Fox & Woolridge, 2018). Consequently, dehydration in children of the first two years of life occurs more often than in adults and is a severe complication, often leading to death (Fox & Woolridge, 2018). To prevent dehydration in the infant, it is essential to offer the child plenty of fluids to maintain a normal state of hydration. In addition to water, juices should contain glucose and mineral salts to replenish sugar and minerals such as sodium, potassium, and chlorine.
In other situations where the loss of moisture in the body increases due to sweat, such as in summer and during prolonged physical activity, it is recommended to use water as the main rehydrator. It should include carbohydrates and minerals salts, and water, such as fruit (Fox & Woolridge, 2018). Sports isotonic drinks are not necessary for children, and their chronic use can have detrimental health effects.
Older people are also prone to dehydration. In old age, there is less water in the human body, so the hydration rate drops to 60 or even 50% (Ekberg, 2018). Meanwhile, dehydration in old age brings with it additional problems. In particular, it has been noted that dehydrated patients are more likely to deteriorate when hospitalized with a stroke. To prevent dehydration in the elderly, they need to drink at least 1.5 to 2 liters of fluid per day (Ekberg, 2018). It is important to remember that this volume includes drinks and soups, vegetables, and fruits (Ekberg, 2018). For the elderly who may forget to drink more, it is advisable to make a schedule or measure the amount of water in a bottle for the day.
References
Fox, S. M., & Woolridge, D. P. (2018). Pediatric emergency medicine, an issue of emergency medicine clinics of North America. Elsevier Health Sciences.
Ekberg, O. (2018). Dysphagia. Diagnosis and treatment. Springer International Publishing.
Tintinalli, J. E., Ma J. O., Yealy, D.M., Meckler, G. D., Stapczynski, S. J., Cline, D. M., Thomas, S. H. (2019). Tintinalli’s emergency medicine: A comprehensive study guide. McGraw-Hill Education.