When it's hot outside and you've been sweating, you get
thirsty. Why? Thirst is a sign of
dehydration
(say: dee-hye-
dray
-shun). Dehydration means that your body doesn't have
enough water in it to keep it working right. A person
gets water by drinking and eating. You lose water when you sweat,
urinate (pee), have diarrhea, or throw up. You even lose a little
water when you breathe.
Our bodies need water to work properly. Usually, you can make up
for the water you lose - like when you come in from outside and
have a long, cool drink of water. If you don't replace the
water your body has lost, you might start feeling sick. And if you
go too long without the water you need, you can become very ill and
might need to go to the hospital.
Why Am I Dehydrated?
Many times kids get dehydrated when they are playing hard and
having fun. Have you ever gotten really sweaty and red-faced when
you've been playing? This often happens when it's hot
outside, but it can happen indoors, too, like if you're
practicing basketball in a gym.
Kids also can get dehydrated when they're sick. If you have
a
stomach virus
(say:
vye
-rus), you might throw up or have
diarrhea
(say: dye-uh-
ree
-uh). On top of that, you probably don't feel very much like
eating or drinking. If you have a sore throat, you might find it
hard to swallow food or drink. And if you have a fever, you can
lose fluids because water evaporates from your skin in an attempt
to cool your body down. That's why your mom or dad tells you to
drink a lot of fluids when you're sick.
Signs of Dehydration
In addition to being thirsty, here are some signs that a person
might be dehydrated:
- feeling lightheaded, dizzy, or tired
- rapid heartbeat
- dry lips and mouth
Another sign of dehydration is not peeing as much. Normally,
urine should be a pale yellow color. Dark or strong-smelling pee
can be a sign of dehydration.
What to Do
If you can, try not to get dehydrated in the first place. If
you're going to be going outside, it's a good idea to
drink water
before, during, and after you play, especially if it's hot.
Dehydration can happen along with heat-related illnesses, such as
heat exhaustion (say: ig-
zos
-chun) and heat stroke. In addition to drinking water, it's
smart to dress in cool clothes and take breaks indoors or at least
in the shade.
If you're sick, keep taking small sips of drinks and soups,
even if you're not that thirsty or hungry. Eating an icepop is
a great way to get fluids. How is an icepop a liquid? Well,
it's basically frozen water and flavoring. The warmth in your
mouth and stomach turns it from a solid to a liquid. Other foods,
such as fruits and vegetables, contain water, too.
Do I Need a Doctor?
Some cases of dehydration can be handled at home. But sometimes,
that isn't enough to get a kid feeling better. A kid may need
to go to the doctor or emergency department if he or she has a
heat-related illness or a virus with vomiting or diarrhea that just
won't quit.
At the hospital, the good news is that an
intravenous
(say: in-truh-
vee
-nus) (IV) line can get fluids into your body fast. An IV line is a
special tube (like a very thin straw) that goes right into your
veins, so the liquid goes right to where your body needs it most.
It may pinch a little when the nurse is inserting it, but it often
helps a person feel much better.
Thirst-Quenching Tips
So do you have to drink eight glasses of water a day? No,
but you do need to drink enough to satisfy your thirst, and maybe a
little extra if you're sick or if you're going to be
exercising. The best drink is water, of course, but milk is another
great drink for kids. Juice is OK, but choose it less often than
water and milk. Sports drinks are fine once in a while, but water
should be considered the drink of champions.
Limit soda and other sugary drinks, such as fruit punches,
lemonades, and iced teas. These drinks contain a lot of sugar that
your body doesn't need. Some of them also contain
caffeine
, which is a diuretic (say: dye-yuh-
reh
-tik). This means that caffeinated drinks cause you to urinate
(pee) more often than normal. In other words, they tell your body
to get rid of fluids. And as you now know, that's the opposite
of what you need to do if you're dehydrated!
Reviewed by:
Elana Pearl Ben-Joseph, MD
Date reviewed: November 2007
Note: All information is for educational purposes only. For specific medical advice,
diagnoses, and treatment, consult your doctor.
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