Health encyclopaedia - Alphabetical Topic List
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Symptoms of Dehydration
The signs of dehydration in adults include:
- thirst;
- low urine output;
- concentrated, dark urine;
- dry, flushed skin;
- dry eyes;
- dry mouth (xerostomia);
- furry tongue;
- headache;
- clammy hands and feet;
- sunken eyes (enophthalmos);
- dizziness; and
- confusion and irritability.
A dehydrated baby may be pale and depressed with sunken eyes. You may also notice a decrease in urine output. If the ‘soft spot’ on your baby’s head is sunken this may be an indication that it is dehydrated. This ‘soft spot’ is called the fontanel and usually closes up by the age of 12-18 months.
Chronic (long term) dehydration is bad for skin, kidneys, liver, joints and muscles and can cause cholesterol problems, headaches, reduced blood pressure (hypotension), fatigue and constipation.
