When to Visit a Paediatrician for Dehydration: Warning Signs You Can’t Ignore

Dehydration in kids may begin with some low energy and crankiness, but it can lead to serious health problems if not fixed in time. In fact, the treatment of children’s dehydration is still a major healthcare issue worldwide, particularly in areas with scarce resources. Even in big cities, it is difficult to notice the early signs like, dry lips and less urine output, leading to great harm. This is the reason why it’s important to identify the symptoms and know when to call a paediatrician for help.

In this article, we have outlined the main signs and reasons of dehydration in kids with the help of the best paediatricians in Kurukshetra. Our aim is to help you identify the early symptoms of dehydration and know when to get the doctor involved if you suspect any warning signs of dehydration.

Dehydration and Its Causes

Dehydration happens when the body loses a lot of fluids than it consumes, which causes an imbalance in the organs and systems, disrupting their function. The human body consists of approximately 60% water; however, even a very small shortage of 1-2% can lead to deterioration in physical as well as mental performance.

In children, dehydration can become severe much faster and the common causes include:

• Not drinking enough water during the day.
• Excessive sweating because of hot weather or active play.
• Vomiting and diarrhea can quickly remove fluids and electrolytes.
• Fever, in addition to sweat and faster breathing, causes an increased fluid loss.
• Certain medications like diuretics that promote water loss.
• Prolonged exposure to heat or sun, accelerates fluid evaporation from the body.

Moreover, ulcers in the mouth, physical pain such as sore throat or just general laziness when it comes to drinking fluids, especially when they are not feeling well, are the main reasons that children do not drink sufficient water and are more vulnerable to dehydration than adults.

Dehydration Symptoms In Children

Detecting dehydration in children early is crucial to prevent it from progressing to a more severe stage. While some signs may seem subtle at first, they can quickly worsen if not addressed. Some of the early symptoms of dehydration & the warning signs that require immediate medical attention, as mentioned below.

1. Dry mouth and lips: They usually become chapped or sticky, especially after physical activity or illness.

2. Fewer wet diapers: It is not unusual for babies to go for 6–8 hours without urinating; in older children, the trips to the bathroom will be very infrequent.

3. Dark-colored urine: A yellowish to amber color indicates that more fluids are needed.

4. Tearless crying: Lack of tears when the child is crying might indicate an early sign.

5. Sunken eyes or fontanelle: Besides, fontanelle (the soft spot on the head of a baby) might look sunken, and consequently, the child’s eyes might look hollow with dark circles.

6. Irritability, crankiness, or fatigue: More tired or fussy behavior with uninterested behavior in playing activities or eating might be indicative of children.

7. Mild dizziness or headaches: These are commonly found in older children and might be accompanied by fatigue, dizziness, or unsteadiness, especially upon standing.

8. Breathing problems: Rapid breathing or an unusually high heart rate, signaling the body is under stress.

9. Cold sweats, Fever: The presence of fever, which may accompany fluid and electrolyte imbalance, also indicates dehydration.

10. Diarrhea or Vomiting: If your child has continuous episodes of vomiting or diarrhea for over 24 hours.

When to Visit a Paediatrician?

Timely medical intervention can prevent the development of complications such as shock, organ failure, or hospitalization. If your child has any of the following symptoms, you should immediately call your paediatrician or go to the emergency department:

1. In 24 hours, your child has had fewer than 3 wet diapers, or if it is a baby, none at all.

2. Your child has stopped to make tears while crying.

3. The child looks very sleepy, confused, or does not respond.

4. Your child has a very rapid heart rate, over 160 bpm in infants or over 140 bpm in toddlers.

5. Your child is breathing faster than normal, especially if the number of breaths per minute is more than 60 in babies under 2.

6. Fontanelles and/or eyes are observed to be very sunken.

7. Your child has cool, dry skin and low body temperature or is noticeably hypothermic.

8. The child has several episodes of vomiting or diarrhea without interruption for over 24 hours.

9. The child passes stools with blood in them or stools that are dark in colour or have blood stains.

10. The child shows a weak pulse and looks in a state of shock or has pale looking skin.

How to Monitor and Manage Early Signs at Home

To prevent the recurrence of dehydration, ensure that your children have access to water at all times. Using colorful and kid-friendly bottles can be very helpful in those cases. Preparing foods that are water-rich or feeding them hydrating fruits and vegetables is also a good means to improve the water levels. Last but not least, dress your kids in light, breathable clothing on hot days. In spite of these steps, if your child exhibits mild dehydration symptoms, here are some immediate steps that you can take:

1. Check the color of urine, if it is clear yellow, it shows good health and dark yellow urine means dehydration.

2. Keep an eye on the number of diapers or toilet visits—less frequency might indicate a problem.

3. Notice the child, if there is dryness of the mouth, eyes, and if there is any behavioral changes, such as crankiness or lethargy.

4. Start feeding with small sips of water every few minutes or oral rehydration solution (ORS) to hydrate the child.

5. Repeat the check in an hour, note energy, urine output, and responsiveness.

However, if no positive changes are observed, do not hesitate to reach out to a paediatrician immediately.

Final Thoughts

Dehydration in kids can become severe in no time, especially if a child is sick or the weather is hot. Mild forms of dehydration can be treated at home by giving kids breast milk or formula for infants, or ORS for older ones, as they are the most suitable according to the healthcare professionals.

Even though at the beginning dehydration may seem quite normal, neglecting the early signs of it can lead to some grave consequences. Be always vigilant, observe the symptoms, and connect with the best paediatricians in Kurukshetra at Shri Balaji Aarogyam Hospital for early intervention.