What are the symptoms of diarrhea and dehydration in children?

Children who suffer from dehydration due to diarrhea may experience symptoms such as thirst, dry skin, decreased urine volume, and abnormal mental state. In severe cases, it may be life-threatening and requires timely medical attention and water replenishment to correct the dehydration.

1) Symptoms of mild dehydration

Mild dehydration usually manifests as thirst, chapped lips or dry skin. The child may become irritable, but his mental state is generally normal. If parents find these symptoms, they should replenish water for the child in time at an early stage. Oral rehydration salts (ORS) are recommended, which can help the child quickly restore fluid balance. In case of mild dehydration, the child can also drink appropriate amounts of light soup or diluted juice, but avoid drinking sweet drinks or carbonated drinks.

2) Symptoms of moderate dehydration

Further dehydration will affect urine output and mental state. Parents may observe that their children's urine output has decreased significantly, or even that they have not urinated for more than 6 hours, their eye sockets are slightly sunken, their tears decrease when they cry, and they are mentally tired or obviously sleepy. In this case, you should seek medical attention immediately and replenish body fluids under the guidance of a doctor. Common methods include intravenous infusion or further correction of electrolyte imbalance.

3) Symptoms of severe dehydration

Severe dehydration is a dangerous stage of diarrhea in children, with obvious symptoms, including sunken eye sockets, poor and dry skin, cold limbs, and even confusion or coma. The child may show extreme fatigue or even shock. This situation is extremely urgent and you should call the emergency number or send to the nearest hospital for treatment immediately. Intravenous fluid replacement, including saline or glucose solution, is often required in the hospital to quickly save the condition.

Parents need to closely observe the symptoms of diarrhea and dehydration in children. If the symptoms are mild, pay attention to oral rehydration. If the symptoms are moderate or above, seek medical attention immediately. The key to preventing diarrhea and dehydration in children is to pay attention to the child's dietary hygiene at all times and ensure a clean feeding environment. If diarrhea occurs, please intervene in time. Regular health checks for infants and young children can also reduce the risk of related complications.