Summertime comes with tons of outdoor activities. With the rising temperatures, kids would love to spend most of their time in the open. Watching those little ones run around having the time of their lives in the sun is always an amazing feeling. However, the weather also comes with other issues, such as dehydration.

One of the major issues that most parents grapple with during the summer is dehydration. The human body requires a lot of water to function as it should. Almost 80% of our body is entirely water. So, imagine what will happen to your little one when they are dehydrated? The last thing any parent would desire is to rash their kid to our emergency room in Waco to receive treatment.

We want to equip you with some knowledge so that you can be better prepared to prevent your kid from dehydration and know where to take them if it occurs.

What Causes Dehydration in Children?

Dehydration occurs when there isn’t enough water in the body. In other words, the body uses more water than you are drinking. The result would be that your body will not have the necessary fluids to carry out its normal functions.

When your kid is mildly dehydrated, it would be much easier to reverse by ensuring they drink more water. On the other hand, severe dehydration will be much harder to reverse and become a medical emergency requiring immediate attention.

Dehydration in children can occur due to several reasons, including:

• Sickness

It is normal to find toddlers and younger kids having bouts of diarrhea. However, when it becomes severe, your kid can lose a lot of water within a short time. If diarrhea suddenly kicks in, it could be a reaction to medication, food poisoning, food disorders, and a viral or bacterial infection. If this happens, then your kid will need immediate medical care.

• Vomiting

Vomiting is another common cause of water loss in kids. Again, vomiting may be from a reaction to food, sickness, or medication. If vomiting is coupled with a sudden onset of diarrhea, there is a risk of severe and sudden dehydration.

• Fever

Our bodies use a lot of water to fight off fever. The higher your baby’s body temperature, the more fluid your body uses. If fever is coupled with diarrhea and vomiting, there will be an increased risk of severe dehydration.

• Increased Urination

If you notice that your kid is frequently urinating, there might be an underlying medical condition that is yet to be diagnosed.

• Chronic Disease

If a kid has a chronic illness, maintaining fluid levels will be much harder. If your child has a chronic cough, heart disease, or any other condition, they must stay hydrated.

• Excessive Activity

Kids are active. The moment they open their eyes, they are ready to go! So, their activity levels will increase when they can go outdoors. Therefore, you can expect your kids to sweat more than usual when participating in different activities. Excessive sweating is another common way for the fluid levels in the body to decrease.

Dehydration Emergencies Treatment in the ER

Before you rush your kid to our emergency room in Waco, you have to observe them to see if they are showing any signs of severe dehydration. You might notice that your kid has a dry mouth or lips. These signs usually symbolize mild dehydration, but in this case, you can give them water throughout the day.

But with severe dehydration, your kid will become sleepy, lethargic, or have a bluish skin discoloration. In other cases, your kid might have seizures, suffer brain damage, or get into a coma. Severe dehydration can be life-threatening.

When you bring your kid to our ER, you can expect them to be treated using fluids that have electrolytes. In cases where it is mild, we will administer the fluids orally. We will administer the fluids at 10-minute intervals if your kid is vomiting. The quantity of the fluids will be increased over time if the vomiting has seized.

However, if we notice that your kid has severe dehydration, then we will administer the fluid intravenously. They can also receive the fluids and electrolytes via a thin plastic tube passed via the nose and down the throat until it reaches the small intestines or stomach.

We Are Here for You

If you notice or suspect your kid is dehydrated, contact us at Express Emergency Room in Waco. Dehydration in kids can be fatal, so make haste whenever you notice dehydration symptoms in your kids.