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48 Signs of dehydrationDehydration signs: clues to potential disorders
Below is a list of 48 signs of dehydration, that you can detect, or feel as you become increasingly dehydrated. That list also includes some specific signs of dehydration in children. Children’s dehydration signs need to be acted on more quickly because any prolonged dehydration in children can result in sickness & growth delays. Also, since children have less fluids, going from mild dehydration to severe or worst, occurs much quicker than it does in adults.
The following list highlights immediate clues that you are suffering from dehydration, from mild to severe. Mild dehydration: < 5% loss of fluids
1) Thirst (However, note that thirst is one of the dehydration signs that may decrease with age, so it is not always a good indicator.) 2)Loss of appetite 3)Dry Skin (This may occur from chronic dehydration. The body pulls water from the skin as soon as it senses dehydration to get water to systems that are more vital.) 4)Skin Flushing 5)Dark colored urine (Note that light colored urine can mask dehydration if your body is eliminating ingested water too quickly.) 6)Dry mouth / Cotton mouth (Related to thirst.) 7)Fatigue / Weakness (Especially when exercising, fatigue is one of the clearest symptom of dehydration. For every 1% fluid loss, performance is reduced 10%.) 8)Chills (Anticipates fever as the body has problems adjusting temperature.) 9)Head rushes (May anticipate headaches.) 10)Sleepiness or tiredness (Also a sign of more severe dehydration.) 11)Decreased urine output (Body conserves what little liquid it has.) 12)Few or no tears when crying. One of the especially important signs of dehydration in children. 13)Muscle weakness. This signal of dehydration occurs even when not exercising. 14)Headache &/or migraine 15)Dizziness or lightheadedness Moderate dehydration signs
Refers to a 5% loss of body fluids. This level needs immediate attention by or on behalf of the sufferer.16)Increased or slowed heart rate suggests dehydration is affecting the most vital organ in our bodies. 17)Increased or decreased respiration similarly suggests dehydration is affecting one of the most important systems in our bodies. 18)Decreased sweating could be one of the most important signs of dehydration because it suggests impending danger. 19)Decreased urination (see “decreased sweating,” above). 20)Increased body temperature (Sign of fever is a clear sign of physical distress.) 21)Extreme fatigue 22)Muscle cramps (In mild to moderate dehydration.) 23)Headaches 24)Nausea 25)Tingling of the limbs (While it is not necessarily a sign of severe dehydration, this sign requires immediate medical attention.) Severe signs & symptoms of dehydration
A 10% fluid loss presents signs & symptoms of dehydration that require, no-question-asked, immediate medical attention. This is especially true for severe signs of dehydration in children & the elderly.)26)Muscle spasms. Suggests loss of control. 27)Vomiting 28)Racing pulse. Any signs of dehydration that implicates the heart requires emergency treatment. 29)Shriveled skin. Worse than dried skin, dehydration signs of shriveled skin tells us that the vital organs have run out of a primary source of water & are in danger. 30)Dim vision suggests another vital organ is being affected by lack of fluids. 31)Painful urination. Also implicates important organs are starting to shut down. 32)Confusion. The brain, which usually has priority regarding body’s water supply, is running out of fluids. 33)Difficulty breathing 34)Seizures. Also implicates the brain. 35)Chest and Abdominal pain 36)Unconciousness 37)Extreme thirst 38)Fussiness or sleepiness in infants & children are important signs of dehydration in children. Do not minimize. Irritability & confusion in adults especially, the elderly, should also be heeded immediately. 39)Very dry mouth, skin and mucous membranes 40)Lack of sweating 41)Little or no urination — any urine that is produced will be dark yellow or amber 42)Sunken eyes. Dehydration has progressed. 43)In infants, sunken fontanels — the soft spots on the top of a baby's head 44)Low blood pressure 45)Fast or slow heart beat points to danger for the cardio system. 46)Fever 47)In the most serious cases, delirium or unconsciousness 48)Death
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