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. Call911or other emergency services immediately.
| Author: | Jan Nissl, RN, BS | Last Updated: March 15, 2007 |
| Medical Review: | Michael J. Sexton, MD - Pediatrics Thomas Emmett Francoeur, MDCM, CSPQ, FRCPC - Pediatrics | |
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