Unlike adults, children develop dehydration rapidly. Parents need to monitor the condition of the baby and control the amount of liquid drunk by the child in order to avoid unpleasant consequences for his health.
Why dehydration occurs
It is important for young and preschool children to drink water regularly to stay hydrated. This is especially true in hot weather and on days when the child is sick. To replenish water balance, the child needs frequent fluid intake, but in small volumes. It can be pure water, juice, or tea. It is not recommended to offer your child carbonated drinks that are harmful to the teeth and gastric mucosa. The daily norm of fluid for infants is 100-200 ml, for preschool children - 1, 2-1, 7 liters, for children aged 7 to 12 years - 1, 7-2 liters, and for adolescents, as well as for adults, you must drink at least 2 liters of water per day. At the same time, in a state of illness, the need for drinking increases sharply.
Fluid deficiency can develop on a very hot day or when in a stuffy room. To avoid this, regularly water the child, avoid outdoor games and clothing made of dense fabrics. The risk of dehydration increases if the child has a fever, diarrhea, and vomiting. Offer warm drinks to your child at high temperatures and clean water or electrolyte solutions for indigestion. Intestinal viruses or infections require the child to drink in small portions of 1-2 tsp. every 5 minutes. Fruit juices and teas are contraindicated in this case, as they irritate the mucous membrane of the gastrointestinal tract and can aggravate the baby's condition. If the child refuses to drink because it hurts to swallow, you can relieve the child's condition with local children's anesthetics.
Signs of dehydration
If your child is still wearing diapers, make sure that urine passes regularly, every half hour to hour. If the diaper is left dry for 5-6 hours, your baby is dehydrated and needs a fluid replacement. Also pay attention to the color and odor of the urine. The less often the child pees, the more concentrated the urine becomes. It has a dark color and a pungent odor than usual.
Loss of fluid is accompanied by general malaise. The child can become lethargic, apathetic, drowsy. Normally, in children, the lips and mouth are always moisturized and pink in color. If you notice that your baby's lips are dry and lighter, this is a classic sign of dehydration. Sometimes, when there is a lack of fluid, children cry without tears.
Signs of severe dehydration, which may require intravenous drip of fluid, include cold pale hands and feet, "marbled" skin, dizziness, lightheadedness, severe drowsiness or excessive agitation, and bruising under the eyes.
