Dehydration

This page is for adult patients. For pediatric patients, see: dehydration (peds)

Background

• Decreased total body water resulting in relative hypertonicity and hypernatremia
• Usually resulting from inadequate fluid intake or increased free water loss
• Often confused with hypovolemia in which total body water is lost with a relative hypotonic or isotonic state

Clinical Features

• dry mucous membranes
• skin tenting
• sunken eyes
• excessive thirst
• headache
• dizziness
• altered mental status
• weakness
• fatigue
• dark urine or decreased urine output
• syncope
• hemodynamic instability