Who Gets Dehydrated?
Other than those who have no access to water, the person who is most likely to become dehydrated is a person exercising without drinking enough, a sick child, or a sick elderly person. For a child who is too young to drink on his or her own or express thirst, adequate water intake may become a problem, especially if the child is losing excessive fluids from an illness. Since fever leads to loss of body fluids (through the skin and breathing, called insensible losses), an infection that causes fever, diarrhea, nausea or vomiting is an important risk factor for dehydration, especially in infants. A reduced sense of thirst in the elderly also is thought to play a role; the reason for this dampened thirst mechanism is not entire clear. Finally, medications that many people take that promote water loss (such as diuretics, or water pills for high blood pressure) also increase the risk of dehydration. Back to top Who Does Not Get Dehydrated? The vast majority of people who have access to wate
