Summer 2022, dehydration in children: how to recognise it and how to prevent it

Summer is the season of high temperatures: one of the main causes, though not the only one, of dehydration, identified as an excessive loss of fluid that exceeds the quantities introduced into the body

Although this is an ageless problem, children are more exposed to it, often prompting parents to ask what to do and when to seek medical attention.

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Common causes of dehydration in young children include

  • gastrointestinal diseases leading to vomiting and/or diarrhoea;
  • inadequate hydration, which may occur
  • during febrile illnesses
  • due to inadequate feeding/feeding;
  • after excessive sweating due to, for example, intense physical activity (more rarely);
  • heat stroke.

Symptoms of dehydration

Symptoms indicative of dehydration are not always easy to detect, especially for younger children who are therefore unable to speak.

One must, therefore, pay close attention to manifestations such as:

  • lethargy and drowsiness
  • irritability;
  • lack of appetite or reduced appetite;
  • headaches;
  • decreased diuresis;
  • decrease in body weight;
  • dry lips and mucous membranes;
  • sunken eyes;
  • sunken fontanelle; infant’s
  • rapid breathing;
  • crying without tears.

Particularly in younger children what is assessed is the weight loss: a loss of up to 2% corresponds to mild dehydration; a loss of 5-7% indicates, on the other hand, dehydration that is beginning to become more serious.

Why are children more prone to dehydration?

The reasons why children become more dehydrated can be found in a number of factors, including:

  • children’s body composition of 75% water, which makes them more susceptible to fluid loss than adults, who are 60% water;
  • children’s faster metabolism which, therefore, has a higher basal demand for water than adults.

The risks of dehydration in children

Dehydration is by no means to be underestimated in children, especially young children, as it occurs very quickly.

Particular attention must be paid to those with chronic illnesses in which this change in body fluids can also have important effects.

If appropriate action is not taken and the phenomenon is neglected, in fact, the following can occur

  • shock;
  • damage, even serious, to internal organs (this in more advanced cases).

Beware of heat stroke

Heat stroke is a sudden rise in body temperature caused by exposure to high environmental temperatures.

The higher the humidity, the higher the risk.

It is one of the most frequent causes of dehydration in summer, as increased sweating can lead to significant fluid loss if not properly rehydrated.

The symptoms of heat stroke, in addition to the typical symptoms of dehydration, may also include:

  • nausea;
  • vomiting;
  • headaches;
  • cramps;
  • feeling of fainting;
  • fever or body heat to the touch.

The causes of heat stroke

The underlying causes of heat stroke are mainly to be found in

  • not yet fully developed thermoregulation system in the child, who needs more time to lower his or her body temperature;
  • less body surface area, especially for infants who have less perspiration and take longer to disperse heat.

How to rehydrate a child

Paediatrics recalls that in the first instance, therapy consists of administering rehydrating saline solutions that are commonly found in pharmacies in liquid or soluble form and that already contain the right amount of salts, sugars and water, thus being far better than fruit juices and home preparations.

Particularly in cases of vomiting, if large quantities of liquid are given to the child, he or she may vomit, so it is necessary to proceed with teaspoons (5/7 ml) at close intervals of 10/15 minutes each.

If the child retains the swallowed liquid, then gradually increase the doses.

In the presence mainly of diarrhoea, rehydration can be considered in the first 4-6 hours with quantities generally equivalent to approx:

  • 30-60 ml/kg of solution for mild fluid loss;
  • 60 ml/kg for a medium loss;
  • 100 ml/kg for a severe loss.

In the latter case, the frequency of evacuation must obviously be assessed, but, in any case, the loss of fluid must always be replenished.

What to do in case of heatstroke in children

If the child is suffering from heatstroke, it is also necessary to

  • transport it in an airy environment;
  • uncover him so that he does not sweat further;
  • bathe his head and body to lower his temperature and hydrate him;
  • lie him down with his legs elevated if he feels faint;
  • administer paracetamol and ibuprofen if he has a fever.

When to go to hospital?

In any case, if the child refuses to take the hydrating substances or if the situation still does not improve after a few hours, he or she should go to the hospital for intravenous rehydration and to carry out the appropriate medical examinations.

How to prevent dehydration

Paediatrics reminds us that nutrition always plays an important role for the child, especially during the summer period when there must be more attention paid to the food and drinks that are given on holiday in order to maintain good hydration and avoid gastroenteritis.

In the hot season, some useful measures to prevent dehydration can be

  • reduce consumption of fatty and caloric foods;
  • favour carbohydrates, which can be used quickly as a source of energy, and fruit and vegetables, which naturally contain water, vitamins and mineral salts;
  • give the child water more frequently if he or she is not self-sufficient;
  • avoid, especially for children under one year of age, exposure to the sun and sport at the hottest times of the day (11am to 5pm);
  • use light-coloured clothing and non-synthetic fibres;
  • protect the child’s head with a hat;
  • frequently wet the child’s head and, if at the beach/pool, the child’s body as well, in order to cool it down;
  • use sunscreen with total protection if exposed to the sun;
  • avoid abrupt transitions from hot to cold, which make the child sweat more and thus favour dehydration.

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Source:

GSD

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