Lab values for someone who is dehydrated

For infants and children who have become dehydrated from diarrhea, vomiting or fever, use an over-the-counter oral rehydration solution. These solutions contain water and salts in specific proportions to replenish both fluids and electrolytes. Start with about a teaspoon 5 milliliters every one to five minutes and increase as tolerated.

It may be easier to use a syringe for very young children. Older children can be given diluted sports drinks. Use 1 part sports drink to 1 part water. Most adults with mild to moderate dehydration from diarrhea, vomiting or fever can improve their condition by drinking more water or other liquids. Diarrhea may be worsened by full-strength fruit juice and soft drinks. If you work or exercise outdoors during hot or humid weather, cool water is your best bet.

Sports drinks containing electrolytes and a carbohydrate solution also may be helpful. Children and adults who are severely dehydrated should be treated by emergency personnel arriving in an ambulance or in a hospital emergency room.

Salts and fluids delivered through a vein intravenously are absorbed quickly and speed recovery. You're likely to start by seeing your or your child's doctor.

However, in some cases when you call to set up an appointment, the doctor may recommend urgent medical care. If you, your child or an adult who you care for is showing signs of severe dehydration, such as lethargy or reduced responsiveness, seek immediate care at a hospital.

If you have time to prepare for your appointment, here's some information to help you get ready, and what to expect from the doctor. Mayo Clinic does not endorse companies or products. Advertising revenue supports our not-for-profit mission. This content does not have an English version. One or both of the symptoms may be found in a wide range of conditions, including the following:.

A lack of fluids might also happen due to insufficient intake. That might happen:. The symptoms and signs of dehydration vary from one person to the next and on how long the reduced intake of fluids lasts. Early dehydration does not have any symptoms.

Moderate and mild dehydration might cause no or few noticeable symptoms. However, people might experience symptoms, including the following:.

Severe dehydration might cause increasingly serious symptoms and signs, including:. A dehydration diagnosis is often based on clinical symptoms and signs, and appropriate treatment is provided. Typically, laboratory testing is not required for moderate or mild dehydration.

Still, various non-laboratory evaluations might be used for assessing a person with more serious symptoms and signs. In severe dehydration cases, laboratory testing is often ordered to identify acid-base and electrolyte imbalances and to evaluate general health status and kidney function. Testing might include:. Blood urea nitrogen BUN and creatine for evaluating kidney function. In dehydration, they are often also increased.

Urinalysis for evaluating the amount of urine production, its concentration, and color. Complete blood count CBC for evaluating blood cells as well as the balance in between the liquid and solid parts of the blood; and one component specifically, the hematocrit, which dehydration may elevate. Glucose for detecting high levels that might be an indication of uncontrolled diabetes. If the dehydration cause is obvious, then it is normally not necessary to do any other testing. A stool culture to search for a bacterial infection that might be causing diarrhea.

A wide range of other tests might be conducted depending on what the underlying cause is suspected to be of the symptoms and signs, including:. Cortisol for detecting Addison disease. Antidiuretic hormone ADH — this is performed rarely to help with diagnosing diabetes insipidus, or a deficiency. Learn more below. Yes, it is possible for dehydration to skew the results of a cholesterol test. This is attributed to the fact that dehydration can cause blood volume to decrease, leading to a drop in blood pressure and blood flow.

When this occurs, it increases the risk of cholesterol accumulation in the arteries. Additionally, the body may increase production of cholesterol in response to severe dehydration, in order to protect cell membranes. Electrolytes are minerals found in body tissues and fluids in the form of dissolved salts, and are responsible for maintaining a healthy water balance. A typical electrolyte panel measures sodium, potassium, chloride, and bicarbonate.

Any condition that affects the amount of fluid in the body—including dehydration—can cause an electrolyte imbalance.