Dehydration of the body

The pathological condition, which is caused by a decrease in the amount of fluid in the body, is dehydration. For life, a dangerous loss is 20-30% of the total amount in the body. Dehydration usually leads to death in 7-10 days, in conditions of high temperature and humidity, lethal outcome is observed after 3-5 days.

This pathological condition has many causes. The main etiological factors include diarrhea and vomiting. The causes of these conditions are food toxic infections, cholera, poisoning, toxicosis of the first half of pregnancy, stenosis of the pylorus. Dehydration also occurs as a result of polyuria, which can lead to hyperparathyroidism, addison's disease. Overheating of the body, sepsis, fever, burns, hydrothorax, ascites - pathological conditions that significantly reduce the amount of fluid in the body.

Dehydration of the body does not tend to affect certain age groups. However, this condition is most severe in children. This is due to the imperfection of the regulation of water-salt metabolism. With mild dyspeptic disorders associated with poisoning, intolerance to certain foods, dehydration may occur, a characteristic feature of which is rapid progression. The adult organism tolerates this pathological state much more easily, it is characterized by a smooth flow, moderate rates and easier compensation with the application of appropriate therapy.

Signs of dehydration are specific and characteristic only for this pathological condition. These include flabbiness and dry skin, a decrease in body weight by more than 5%, the appearance of wrinkles on the skin of the face, the sharpening of his features. More rare signs are oliguria, anuria, azotemia, hematocrit, lowering blood pressure.

In clinical practice, two types of dehydration are distinguished: hyperosmotic and hypo-osmotic. Signs of the first state are thirst, sharp dryness in the mouth, pharynx, hoarse voice, fever. There is a tendency to constipation, a decrease in skin turgor, an increase in the concentration of protein in the blood, leukocytes. For this state, the emergence of a variety of psychological conditions: excitement, aggressiveness, a sense of fear, drowsiness, hallucinations.

Signs of dehydration, which develops according to the hypoosmotic type, are determined by the prevalence of asthenia, apathy, a significant decrease in blood pressure. For this pathological condition is also characteristic of dry mucous membranes and skin. Dehydration is characterized by the appearance of headache, anorexia, nausea. In rare cases, there are convulsions, muscle pains, mental disorders.

Dehydration of the body can be prevented in the treatment of diseases that are accompanied by significant loss of water. When working in a dry and hot atmosphere, salt water should be used. For infants who are on artificial feeding, a clear drinking regime should be organized .

Treatment of dehydration of the body is the use of special water-salt solutions. With the hyposmatic type of dehydration, the use of hypertonic solutions of glucose, sodium chloride is shown. In the future, it is expedient to switch to isotonic solutions.

The hyperosmotic type of dehydration is stopped by applying 5% glucose solutions.

Dehydration of the body is a pathological condition that leads to severe pathological changes in the internal organs, skin and mucous membranes. However, the correct treatment can completely compensate for fluid loss and avoid a fatal outcome.