Dehydration — Causes, Related Conditions & Affordable Treatment
Dehydration can be associated with multiple conditions. Consult a healthcare provider to determine the cause and appropriate treatment.
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MedlinePlus overview of Dehydration
What is dehydration?
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.
What causes dehydration?
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
Who is more likely to develop dehydration?
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
What are the symptoms of dehydration?
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
How is dehydration diagnosed?
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.
What are the treatments for dehydration?
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.
Can dehydration be prevented?
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.
Source: MedlinePlus, National Library of Medicine. MedlinePlus topic page. Topic date: 10/01/2012. MedlinePlus file date: 10/15/2026 02:30:37.
This information is educational and is not medical advice.