What are the causes and symptoms of dehydration?
Strenuous activity, excessive sweating, high fever, and prolonged vomiting or diarrhea are common causes of dehydration. So are staying in the sun too long, not drinking enough fluids, and visiting or moving to a warm region where it doesn’t often rain. Alcohol, caffeine, and diuretics or other medications that increase the amount of fluid excreted can cause dehydration. Reduced fluid intake can be a result of: • appetite loss associated with acute illness • excessive urination (polyuria) • nausea • bacterial or viral infection or inflammation of the pharynx (pharyngitis) • inflammation of the mouth caused by illness, infection, irritation, or vitamin deficiency (stomatitis) Other conditions that can lead to dehydration include: • disease of the adrenal glands, which regulate the body’s water and salt balance and the function of many organ systems • diabetes mellitus • eating disorders • kidney disease • chronic lung disease. An infant who does not wet a diaper in an eight-hour period
