DEHYDRATION

Sudden loss of fluids from the body due to different reasons lead to dehydration. The patient suffers from intense thirst. His tongue is white and dry. His skin is wrinkled, the eyeballs sunken, cheeks hollow, and breathing is labored and difficult. Because of the lack of fluids in the body, the blood pressure falls, and the temperature may be subnormal although the pulse rate may be rapid. Dehydration is dangerous. It is the single leading cause of childhood death around the world.


Children with vomiting or diarrhea are most likely to become dehydrated. Both can increase the fluid losses and may decrease fluid intake. Children become dehydrated much more rapidly than adults. Children with mild to moderate dehydration may have dry mouths, fewer tears when they cry, darker urine, and a sunken soft spot. They become less active than usual.


As dehydration worsens, children usually become more irritable and lethargic. The pulse grows faster and weaker. The eyes will be very sunken and the lips and mucus membranes very dry. The skin may wrinkle. Urine decreases even further. The hands and feet may become cold or blue. Muscle cramps are common.

Dehydration will last until fluid and electrolyte intake surpasses what is being lost, and fluid and electrolyte reserves have been restored.


HOME REMEDIES FOR DEHYDRATION
Drink lots of water by adding some water or salt to it.
Avoid Fruit juices, apricots, peas, pears, peaches, plums, prunes, etc.
Take yogurt, buttermilk, mint, apple, pomegranate, papaya, banana, carrot, potato, etc.
Add a few drops of pudin hara to half of cup of water and drink 3-4 times.
Drink a mixture of 1 tsp mint juice, 1/2 tsp ginger juice, and 1 tsp honey.
Grind a lemon along with seeds and make a paste. Add some salt. Take 1 tsp of this paste 2-3 times.
Drink 1/2 tsp of dry ginger ( saunth powder in 1 cup buttermilk (chhachh) 3 - 4 times a day. This is an effective home remedy for dehydration.
Chew a few pieces of the inner lining of pomegranate with salt, and/or drink pomegranate juice.
Prepare a mixture by ading 1 Tbsp poppy seeds, 1 tsp edible gum, 1 tsp cardamom powder, 1/2 tsp nutmeg (jaiphal) powder, and2 tbs sugar, and grind to a powder. Take this powder every 2 hours.
Prepare a mixture by adding 1/2 tsp lemon juice, 1/2 tsp ginger juice, and 1/4 tsp pepper powder and drink it.
For dehydration treatment, mix 5-6 chopped basil (tulsi) leaves, 1/4 tsp sea salt, and some black pepper in 3 Tbsp of curd, and eat it. Repeat this 4 times a day for one week.
Roast 1/2 tsp cumin (jeera) seeds and 1/2 tsp fenugreek seeds (dana methi). Mix and powder it, add to 4 tsp of yogurt (curd). Take thrice a day. This is also an effective home remedy for dehydration .
Grate one raw papaya. Add 3 cups water, boil for 10 mins, strain and finish the water in one day.
Apply ginger juice around the navel area of a child.
Stew 1 apple with 2 pinches of nutmeg powder and 1 tsp sugar. Give your child to eat it.
Avoid alcohol and caffeine during dehydration.
Eat lots of fresh fruits and vegetables.
Hot weather is another common cause of dehydration in the elderly. Always use an air conditioner or fans in hot weather.
Apply heat to the abdomen to help relieve pain, cramps, and tenderness. Electric heating pads, moist heat wraps, and water bottles can all be used as needed.
The leaves and fruit of blueberries and bilberries will help to naturally stop diarrhea.
Chamomile is a natural pain reliever, which will help to rid your body of cramps and inflammation.
For dehydration treatment, eat one green banana every two to four hours until symptoms subside.
Small, frequent feeds of energy-rich local foods familiar to the child should be given. A little vegetable oil can be added to foods such as millet or rice to increase the energy content.
Foods high in potassium are important to restore the body's essential stores depleted during diarrhea. Such foods include lentils, bananas, mangoes, pineapples, pawpaw, coconut milk and citrus fruits.
The patient may have ice chips by mouth or sips of water frequently.