Dehydration is a loss of water in the organism. Water accounts for more than two thirds of human body mass. Water is extremely important for the functioning of every cell; it is the principal component of blood and other body fluids. Water is vital in every single moment; loss of significant amount of water results in death.

There are several ways of losing water:

Decreased uptake of water. In this case dehydration develops slowly. A human would survive no longer than a week without water (it depends on the climate and other factors).
Diarrhea. Depending on the amount and the consistency of the faeces, dehydration may be sudden.

Vomiting. The amount of lost water and the speed of dehydration development depend on the amount and the frequency of vomiting.

Excessive sweating. For example: intensive work, sporting on a hot day.

Overdosing of diuretics, diseases that cause fluid redistribution, alcohol consumption (look “hangover”).

Dehydration might develop into hypovolemic shock and may cause death. It is extremely dangerous for babies and newborns, as even a simple intestinal infection can cause loss of water quite fast.

In intensive care dehydration is classified into isotonic (both sodium and water is lost), hypotonic (more sodium than water is lost) and hypertonic (more water than sodium is lost). According to clinical symptoms dehydration is classified into four stages:

First degree of dehydration. 1-3 percent of body weight is lost. The patient feels a mild thirst; his/her mouth is dry. The heart rate is increased but there are no changes in arterial blood pressure.

Second degree of dehydration. 4-6 percent of body weight is lost. The pulse is frequent, arterial blood pressure is decreased, body temperature may be raised.  The patient duffers from the decrease in urine excretion, dryness of mucous membranes. The tongue is covered with white plaques.

Third degree of dehydration. 7-9 percent of body weight is lost. Consciousness is interrupted, mucous membranes are very dry, the skin turgor is decreased (the skin is wrinkled, wimped out). Also, there is a total absence of urine excretion, the blood pressure is very low, and the heart rate is frequent. The patient’s skin is cold and bluish, dark halos might be seen around the eyes.

Fourth degree of dehydration. More than 10 percent of body weight is lost. This condition is also called hypovolemic shock. The patient is unconscious, his/her blood pressure is immeasurable; the skin is blue and pale. The patient is cold, the pulse is impalpable. In addition, sunken eyes, wimped out skin, dry mucous membranes are noticed.

The treatment of dehydration: the main goal is to establish water balance in the organism. In case of dehydration of the first and second degree the patient has to drink liquids (tea, juice, water, electrolyte solutions – special powder dissolved in water) constantly. Dehydration of third and fourth degree of is treated in a hospital. The main method of treating dehydration is intravenous infusions.