Dehydration means that your body does not have enough fluid. If it's not treated, it can become a serious problem.
Babies, children and people age 65 and over are more at risk of dehydration.
Read about dehydration in babies and children
Symptoms of dehydration
Symptoms of dehydration in adults and children include:
- feeling thirsty
- dark yellow, strong-smelling pee - healthy pee should look pale yellow
- feeling dizzy or lightheaded
- feeling tired
- a dry mouth, lips or tongue
- sunken eyes
- peeing smaller amounts than usual and fewer than 4 times a day
There are some more signs of dehydration in children.
Emergency action required: Call 999 or 112 or go to your nearest emergency department (ED) if you:
- are confused and disorientated
- feel very dizzy
- have not peed all day
- feel like your heart is beating fast
- have fits (seizures)
- are caring for someone who is drowsy or difficult to wake
These can be signs of serious dehydration that need urgent treatment.
Causes of dehydration
Dehydration can happen more easily if you have:
- a high temperature of 38 degrees Celsius or more
- diabetes
- been vomiting or have diarrhoea
- been in the sun too long (heatstroke)
- drank too much alcohol
- exercised and sweated a lot
- been taking medicines that make you pee more (diuretics)
- symptoms of flu or COVID-19
Treating dehydration
Drink more fluids when you feel any dehydration symptoms.
If you're vomiting or have diarrhoea and are losing too much fluid, you need to put back the sugar, salts and minerals that your body has lost.
The best fluids to drink are:
- water
- oral rehydration sachets
Your pharmacist can recommend oral rehydration sachets. These are powders that you mix with water and then drink. Ask your pharmacist which ones are right for you or your child.
If you are very ill, ask someone else to go to the pharmacy for you.
If you find it hard to drink because you feel sick or have been vomiting, start with small sips and then gradually drink more.
Non-urgent advice: Contact your GP if:
- your symptoms do not improve with treatment
Reduce the risk of dehydration
There are things you can do to reduce the risk of dehydration.
Do
-
drink enough during the day so your pee is pale yellow
-
drink plenty of fluids if you are vomiting, have diarrhoea or if you are sweating a lot
Helping someone you care for
The person you are caring for may not have a sense of how much they're drinking.
To help them:
- make sure they drink during mealtimes
- make drinking a social thing, such as having a cup of tea together
- offer them food with a high water content - for example, soups, ice cream or jellies, or fruits like melon
Content supplied by the NHS and adapted for Ireland by the HSE
