Dehydration

Dehydration - the lack of water in the body - is a result of water loss greater than intake. In healthy adult, about 7 liters of water from digestive juices is secreted into the intestine and about 2 liters of dietary water is ingested every day, but only 100-200 ml of water is lost with the stool, since most of it is re-absorbed in intestine. In acute diarrhea, as much as 20 liters of water (and electrolytes) may be lost in one day.

Symptoms of MILD Dehydration

Some extent of dehydration may occurs in a couple of hours.

• thirst*, dry mouth, few tears when crying;
• reduced amount (less than usual) of morning urine (in infants, no wet diaper for 3 hours, is a sign of dehydration);
• fatigue, dizziness.

*Note: Thirst isn’t a reliable sign of dehydration - it may be absent, especially in children, old, and in severely dehydrated persons.