As much as you may pay close attention to your child’s health, there are some issues that can arise suddenly, even if nothing else is wrong. Dehydration often catches parents off guard, especially on days with plenty of physical play or when there are bugs like colds and the flu going around. It affects children more often than you might think.
Thankfully, dehydration is usually mild and easy to treat with a little extra care and attention. However, left unaddressed, it can lead to some worrying health issues. Here, we’re going to look at the signs of dehydration and how to give kids the urgent care they need.
What Causes Dehydration in Children?
The overarching cause of dehydration is when a child loses more fluids than they take in. This can happen quicker than you might expect, especially in young children, often due to the following reasons:
- Illness: All kinds of illness can lead to rapid fluid loss due to fever, vomiting, and diarrhea. If your child is sick and losing fluids quicker than you can replenish them, you may want to bring them to one of our locations to get checked out.
- Not drinking enough: If your kid is playing so much or otherwise distracted that they forget to drink water, they might not even realize they’re thirsty. As such, it’s important to remind them to keep drinking water throughout the day.
- Hot weather and physical activity: Kids sweat on hot days, and sports practice or physical play can cause them to sweat even more. Without regularly drinking while exerting energy, they can easily become dehydrated.
Signs Your Child May Be Mildly Dehydrated
If a child is mildly dehydrated, it’s typically not dangerous, but it’s still wise to keep an eye out for early warning signs so you can top them up with some water. Some of those signs include:
- Dry lips or a dry mouth: This can also present as a sore throat, having a hard time swallowing or speaking, or a sticky-feeling mouth.
- Tiredness of crankiness: If your child is fussier than usual or seems like they’re unusually sleepy, then they may need some fluids.
- Fewer wet diapers or bathroom visits: When the body has less fluid, it also expels fewer fluids. For babies and toddlers, fewer than six wet diapers in a day is a warning sign of dehydration.
- Increased thirst or hunger: If a child is asking for more water and gulping a lot down, it’s a clear sign their body is behind on fluids. Sometimes, we confuse the signals of hunger and thirst, too, so pay attention to whether they’re suddenly hungry.
Catching these signs early and encouraging your child to drink more water can help prevent things from getting worse.
More Serious Signs to Watch For
If dehydration isn’t treated quickly, it can progress from mild to more moderate or even severe cases. When this happens, the symptoms become more specific and concerning, such as the following:
- No tears when drying: This is a clear sign that your child is low on fluids.
- Sunken eyes: These can be a visible sign of more advanced dehydration.
- Skin that doesn’t bounce back: You can try gently pinching the skin on the back of your child’s hand or belly. If it doesn’t quickly go back to normal, it could be a sign of dehydration.
- Fast breathing or a rapid heartbeat: This could be a sign that the body is working faster to compensate for fluid loss.
- Lethargy or difficulty waking up: This is a sign of severe dehydration, indicating that you may need to get medical help as soon as possible.
Any of the signs mentioned above should be acted on as soon as possible, and your child may be in need of medical attention.
When to Take Your Kid to Urgent Care
The milder signs of dehydration should serve as a signal for you to offer your child water and, in some cases, to call upon others for assistance. The signs below, however, are indicators that it’s time to seek out urgent care:
- Vomiting or diarrhea lasting more than a few hours: This level of continuous fluid loss could leave your child severely dehydrated.
- They’re unable to keep fluids down: Dehydration is best fought by drinking, but if your child can’t drink without throwing up, they may need hydration support through an IV.
- No urination for 6-8 hours: This is an indicator that your child’s body is running dangerously low on fluids.
- Any of the serious symptoms listed in the section above: If you’re seeing sunken eyes, fast breathing, extreme sleepiness, or no tears, don’t wait.
If you’re worried about your child, trust your gut. If something feels off and any of the signs of dehydration above apply, erring on the side of caution and getting a professional opinion might be the best course.
How to Help Your Child Stay Hydrated
As with many things, prevention is better than treatment when it comes to dehydration, and you can avoid the warning signs above with some of the following pediatrician-approved tips:
- Offer water often: Even if your child isn’t asking for any or hasn’t said they are thirsty, you should encourage small sips throughout the day. It’s very easy for kids to avoid drinking water or not notice they’re getting dehydrated.
- Use electrolyte drinks if they’re sick: Drinks high in electrolytes, like Pedialyte, can help your child restore their fluid levels when they’re sick.
- Get creative with fluids: If you think your child won’t consistently drink water, you can get hydration from other sources like popsicles, juicy fruits (including watermelon and oranges), or broths.
- Dress your child for the weather: Dressing your child in light, breathable clothing when it’s warm out can prevent overheating, alongside regular breaks from exercise or playtime to cool down and rehydrate.
Stop By Our Pediatric Urgent Care Clinic
When it comes to dehydration, don’t be afraid to ask for help. If you’re noticing any of the signs above, come see us at Just 4 Kids Pediatric Urgent Care. Stop by one of our locations in Rexburg, Idaho Falls, or Chubbuck.