Dehydration Symptoms
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Dehydration Symptoms

Dehydration Symptoms
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Updated on October 23, 2024
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Dehydration is what happens when there is insufficient water in your body. It occurs when you lose more fluid and electrolytes than you’re taking in. All your body’s cells, tissues, and organs need water to function, so when your body doesn’t get enough water, it stops functioning as it should.

 This causes a range of symptoms, including dark pee, headaches, and muscle cramps. Read on to learn more about the symptoms of dehydration, potential complications, and when to see a doctor.

Symptoms of Dehydration

Dehydration symptoms can be mild, moderate, or severe. Severe dehydration can be life-threatening.

 Signs and symptoms of dehydration in adults and children are also slightly different from those in babies.

Dehydration Symptoms in Adults

Mild to moderate dehydration symptoms in adults include:

  • Being very thirsty
  • Not peeing much
  • Dry mouth and dry lips
  • Dry skin
  • Dark-yellow pee
  • Headache
  • Muscle cramps
Severe dehydration is a medical emergency and can be life-threatening.

 Severe symptoms of dehydration include:

  • Not peeing at all
  • Strong-smelling pee that’s very dark or amber in color
  • Irritability or confusion
  • Dizziness or lightheadedness
  • A fast heart rate
  • Breathing fast
  • Sunken eyes
  • Fatigue and lack of energy
  • Delirium (not being able to pay attention or think properly)
  • Loss of consciousness

Dehydration Symptoms in Babies

Babies and very young children are at a higher risk of dehydration. This is because their metabolism is faster so they process fluids more quickly, they lose more fluids over time, and it’s harder for them to communicate that they’re thirsty or dehydrated.

Symptoms of dehydration in babies include:

  • The soft spot on top of their head (called a fontanel) is sunken
  • Sunken eyes
  • Few or no tears when they cry
  • Few wet diapers, or none in 8 hours (for toddlers)
  • Unusual drowsiness or irritability
  • Cold, blotchy hands and feet
  • Dry, wrinkled skin

Potential Complications of Dehydration

Untreated dehydration can cause:

  • Shock (when not enough blood is flowing through your body)
  • Seizures
  • Brain damage
  • Coma
  • Death

When to See a Doctor

There are many things you can do to relieve dehydration, including drinking water or sports drinks with added electrolytes, or taking oral rehydration solutions. Your pharmacist can also help.

That said, if you or someone you’re caring for experiences any of these signs and symptoms, seek emergency care:

  • Loss of consciousness
  • Confusion or seizures
  • Signs of heatstroke (a fever of over 102 degrees F [38.8 degrees C])
  • Rapid heartbeat or rapid breathing
  • Symptoms don’t get better or get worse even with treatment

The Takeaway

Mild to moderate dehydration is easy enough to prevent and treat, but severe dehydration can be a medical emergency. Telltale signs of dehydration include thirst, dry skin, darker colored urine, muscle cramps, and lack of energy. If you have these symptoms, try drinking water or drinks with added electrolytes, and see if they improve. Your local pharmacist can also help. If you have signs of severe dehydration, seek medical help right away.

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Grant Chu, MD, MS, MBA, FACP

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Grant Chu, MD, is an associate clinical professor at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA. Dr. Chu is also associate director of inpatient East-West consult services at the ...

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Resources
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  2. Hydrating for Health. NIH News in Health. May 2023.
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  5. Dehydration. Cleveland Clinic. June 2023.