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Acute diarrhoea: effective symptom management
Signs of dehydration
It is helpful to be aware of the signs of dehydration, as those severely affected may need to go to hospital for intravenous fluids.
Adults and children
Signs of dehydration include:5
- Feeling thirsty
- Having dark yellow or strong-smelling urine
- Feeling tired, dizzy or light-headed
- Reduced frequency of urination
- Dry mouth/lips/eyes
Under-5s
Children under 5 affected by any of the signs listed should be referred to A&E/their GP urgently:5
- Drowsiness
- Faster breathing than usual
- Not producing tears when they cry
- A soft spot on their head that sinks inwards (sunken fontanelle)
- Dark yellow urine or having fewer wet nappies than usual
Mini Quiz
What is a sunken fontanelle?
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