Dehydration in young children

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Dehydration in young children

Babies and young children are more likely to become dehydrated than adults because their bodies contain a larger percentage of water. Children's bodies need more water because they have a higher metabolic rate. Children's kidneys do not retain water as well as adults. This means illnesses that cause vomiting, diarrhea, or a fever can rapidly decrease the amount of fluid in a young child's body, causing dehydration.

A young child will not be able to tell you if he or she is feeling dehydrated, so you must look for symptoms of dehydration.

Mild dehydration

• Less frequent urination, and the urine may have a strong odor and dark yellow color
• A baby acting fussy, hungry, and thirsty most of the time

Moderate dehydration

• No urine for 8 hours or fewer than three wet diapers in 24 hours
• A sunken soft spot (fontanel) in the baby's head
• Slightly sunken eyes and decreased tears
• Drier-than-normal mouth and tongue
• Extreme hunger or thirst

Severe dehydration

• Child will not play or may be so sleepy that he or she is hard to wake up
• A very sunken soft spot (fontanel) and very sunken eyes
• No tears and a dry mouth and tongue, with no saliva
• No urine for over 12 hours
• Fast breathing and heartbeat
• Skin that is slow to return to normal after being gently pinched

Severe dehydration is a medical emergency. Call 911 or other emergency services immediately.

Credits

Last updated:	March 15, 2007
Author:	Jan Nissl, RN, BS
Reviewed By:	Michael J. Sexton, MD - Pediatrics, Thomas Emmett Francoeur, MDCM, CSPQ, FRCPC - Pediatrics
Editors:	Susan Van Houten, RN, BSN, MBA, Tracy Landauer