Awareness and First Aid
Have you ever had a headache and dry mouth on a hot day? That’s a sign that you’re mildly dehydrated. If you don’t drink enough water, the condition could become more serious.
Dehydration happens when you don’t drink enough to replace the fluids your body loses throughout the day. Without enough water, your body can’t perform its usual functions.
Causes of dehydration
Ziyaad Warasally, ER24 Branch Manager for Northern KwaZulu-Natal, says dehydration can be caused by several factors. These include sweating a lot, for example, when you’re outside in the heat or exercising hard; illnesses like diarrhoea or vomiting; or even a medical condition like diabetes, which can make you urinate more due to high blood sugar levels.
Who is most at risk of dehydration?
“Anyone can get dehydrated," says Warasally. “But older people and babies are more at risk. Older adults don't feel thirsty as strongly, so they may not drink enough, and their bodies also have less water. Babies are more vulnerable because they’re small and lose water quickly due to their larger surface area. They also need more fluids because their metabolism is faster than that of adults. Plus, babies can’t tell you when they're thirsty
Children are also more likely than adults to become dehydrated as their bodies are not as efficient at conserving water. “In addition, they’re at high risk of contracting conditions like diarrhoea that cause fluid loss,” explains Warasally.
Signs and symptoms of dehydration
Thirst is a common symptom of dehydration. Other signs are dizziness, headache, dry mouth, dark urine, light-headedness, fatigue, and an increased heart rate. Signs in babies include a dry nappy for three hours, a sunken soft spot, dry eyes when crying, sunken eyes, and listlessness.
If your baby shows any of these signs, Warasally says it's important to get medical help. It's also a good idea to see a doctor if your baby has vomited more than three times in the past 24 hours.
Children should see a doctor if they have diarrhoea lasting more than 24 hours.
For adults, dizziness means it’s time to get medical help. It is also important to get checked if your symptoms of dehydration don’t improve, even after drinking water.
Treatment for dehydration
Warasally says that in very serious cases, a patient may need to be hospitalised to correct the fluid imbalance in their body using an intravenous (IV) drip. But in most cases, drinking a rehydration solution is enough to restore electrolytes:
Instructions for making rehydration solution
- Using a rehydration sachet:
- Mix one sachet with 1 litre of water.
- Drink slowly over 4 to 6 hours.
- Using a homemade solution:
- Dissolve 6 teaspoons of sugar and 1 teaspoon of salt in 1 litre of water.
- Drink slowly over 4 to 6 hours.
Avoid tea and coffee because they make you urinate more, which can lead to losing more fluids. If you're having trouble keeping fluids down because of vomiting, try drinking small amounts of liquid more often.
Don’t give water to dehydrated babies or children, as it can make things worse by further diluting minerals in their bodies that are already depleted. Instead, offer them small amounts of breastmilk, formula or rehydration solution for children. Use a spoon or syringe if they struggle to keep the fluid down.
Preventing dehydration
Stay out of the sun during the hottest parts of the day and drink water throughout the day.
Even in cold weather, it’s important to drink more because dry air can still cause you to lose moisture. Drink extra water if you’re sick or have diarrhoea and before and after any strenuous activity.
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