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
Differential Diagnosis
Evaluation
- Urine sodium concentration
- FENa (fractional excretion of sodium)
- Urine osmolality
- Urinalysis