The Probert Encyclopaedia of Medicine

DEHYDRATION

Dehydration is a condition of the body caused by loss of water and essential body salts. Signs and symptoms of dehydration include dry mouth, decreased or absent urination, sunken eyes, wrinkled skin, confusion, low blood pressure, and coma. The primary cause is due to excessive sweating during exercise, especially in hot, humid weather, as well as persistent vomiting or diarrhea from any cause, use of diuretics or other drugs that deplete fluids and electrolytes, overexposure to sun or heat, recent illness with high fever, or chronic kidney disease. Possible complications of
dehydration are blood pressure drop, shock, or even death from prolonged, severe
dehydration. Severe or prolonged cases of dehydration may require hospitalization for a time with fluids being taken intravenously.
Research Dehydration