What is dehydration?

4 May 2021

It is a process in which the body loses fluid without being replaced, so the body is not able to work properly. It is always necessary to maintain good hydration to prevent fluid loss that causes dehydration.

This condition can happen to anyone under different circumstances, but it is riskier in infants and seniors.

In children, the most common causes are intense diarrhea and vomiting, while seniors tend to ingest less fluids and also their water volume is lower, which, together with pathologies or medical treatments that promote dehydration, may be important factors for this type of event.

Similarly, anyone can become dehydrated on days of extreme heat or physical activity without replenishing fluids. A slight dehydration is counteracted by drinking plenty of water, but a serious condition requires immediate specialized attention, since it is a medical emergency.

Signs and symptoms Dehydration

Symptoms are different according to age:

Babies and children:

Oral and tongue dryness.
Dry crying.
Lack of urine
Hollow eyes.
Irritability.

Adults:

Excessive thirst.
Lack of urine
Dark coloration in the urine.
Tiredness and weakness.
Dizziness.
Lightheadedness and mental confusion.

Untreated dehydration is likely to lead to serious complications, such as:

Heatstroke.
Kidney complications.
Seizures.
Hypovolemic shock.
Death.

Diagnosis and treatment Dehydration

Your doctor can regularly diagnose dehydration through the symptoms, since you will have hypotension, rapid heart rate, and circulatory problems in the legs.

He or she can request blood and urine tests as diagnostic confirmation procedure.

The optimal treatment plan to reverse dehydration is fluid and electrolyte replacement, although the replacement technique may vary depending on the degree of dehydration, symptoms, causes, and the patient’s age.

For infants and children, oral saline solution is recommended to replenish fluids and electrolytes, while for adults, drinking plenty of water is usually enough.

However, in severe dehydration, it is essential to go to the Saludora Medical Center Emergency Room to receive immediate medical attention and prevent possible severe complications that can put your life and your child’s life at risk.

Related centers and departments Dehydration

Emergency Room
Internal Medicine
Radiology and Molecular Imaging
Clinical Laboratory

Fuentes:

cdc.gov
msdmanuals.com
mayoclinic.org
medlineplus.gov
healthline.com
medigraphic.com
Espinosa GMM, Daniel GAB, Durán CC, et al. Deshidratación en el paciente adulto. Rev Fac Med UNAM . 2021;64(1):17-25.
Boskabadi H, Zakerihamidi M. Prevalencia de hiperglucemia en la deshidratación hipernatrémica neonatal y su correlación con el pronóstico. Acta Pediatr Mex. 2020;41(6):249-256.
Piña BCE. Factores pronósticos de mortalidad por enfermedad diarreica aguda complicada en niños desnutridos. Cuba y Salud. 2018;13(3):58-64.
Figueredo GLI, Figueredo GCR, Otero FMJ, et al. Factores que influyen en la variabilidad de diarreas por parásitos. Policlínico ”13 de Marzo”. 2018-2019. Mul Med. 2021;225(1):.

How can we help you?

The dissemination of the content of this material is for informational purposes only and does not replace, under any circumstance or condition, a consultation with a specialist doctor, for which the Saludora Medical Center is not responsible for the different use that may be given to it. If you require more information related to the subject, we suggest you contact the specialist doctor you trust directly.

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Comparison of COVID-19 vaccines

Pfizer-
BioNTech

Pfizer-BioNTech

What is its effectiveness and what does it refer to?

Vaccine type: mRNA
Effectiveness: 95% after the second dose in the prevention of symptomatic COVID-19.

No Does not contain egg, latex, or preservatives.

How many doses are needed?
Two doses are needed, at least 21 days apart (or up to six weeks apart, if necessary).

Who should or shouldn’t get the vaccine?
People who should receive the vaccine are those over 16 years old.
People who should not receive the vaccine are those who have a history of anaphylactic shock (severe allergy) or who are allergic to any component of this vaccine such as polyethylene glycol (PEG) or polysorbate.

What are the possible side effects of the vaccine?
Pain where the injection was given, fatigue, headache, muscle pain, chills, joint pain, fever, nausea, malaise, and swollen lymph nodes.

How long will it take for me to be protected and what does it protect me from?
After 14 days of having the complete scheme (after the administration of the 2nd dose), the protection period is still under study. It protects us from serious COVID-19 or requiring hospitalization.

Moderna

What is its effectiveness and what does it refer to?

Vaccine type: mRNA
Effectiveness: 94.5% after the second dose in the prevention of symptomatic COVID-19.

Does not contain egg, latex, or preservatives.

How many doses are needed?
Two doses are needed, at least 28 days apart (or up to six weeks apart, if necessary).

Who should or shouldn’t get the vaccine?
People who should receive the vaccine are those over 18 years old.
People who should not receive the vaccine are those who have a history of anaphylactic shock (severe allergy) or who are allergic to any component of this vaccine.

What are the possible side effects of the vaccine?
Pain where the injection was given, fatigue, headache, muscle pain, chills, joint pain, fever, nausea, and swollen lymph nodes in the arm in which you received the injection.

Janssen/
Johnson
& Johnson

Janssen/ Johnson & Johnson

What is its effectiveness and what does it refer to?

Vector-based vaccine.
Effectiveness: 72.0% in the prevention of symptomatic COVID-19.
85% in the prevention of severe COVID-19.

Does not contain egg, latex, or preservatives./strong>

How many doses are needed?
Only one dose in needed.

What are the possible side effects of the vaccine?
Pain where the injection was given, headache, fatigue, muscle pain, chills, fever, and nausea.

How long will it take for me to be protected and what does it protect me from?
After 28 days of having the complete scheme (the last dose applied), the protection period is still under study. It protects us from 85% serious COVID-19 or requiring hospitalization.

AstraZeneca
and
Oxford
University

AstraZeneca and Oxford University

What is its effectiveness and what does it refer to?

Adenovirus vector-based vaccine.
Effectiveness: 82% after the second dose in the prevention of symptomatic COVID-19.

How many doses are needed?
Two doses are needed, at least 56 days apart (or up to 84 days apart, if necessary).

What are the possible side effects of the vaccine?
Pain where the injection was given, fatigue, headache, myalgia, arthralgia, and fever, which were mild to moderate in intensity and disappeared within 48 hours of vaccination.

Sputnik V

What is its effectiveness and what does it refer to?

Adenovirus vector-based vaccine.
Effectiveness: 92% after the second dose in the prevention of symptomatic COVID-19.

How many doses are needed?
Two doses are needed, at least 21 days apart (or up to six weeks apart, if necessary).

What is dehydration?

Signs and symptoms Dehydration

Diagnosis and treatment Dehydration

Related centers and departments Dehydration

Fuentes:

Index

Specialist in Dehydration