Dehydration Overview

Dehydration occurs when you lose more fluid than you take, and the body has enough water and other fluids to carry out normal activities. If you lose fluids, you can get dehydrated.

Common causes of dehydration include intense diarrhea, vomiting, fever or excessive sweating. Do not drink enough water during hot weather or exercise can also cause dehydration. Anyone can become dehydrated, but young children, the elderly and people with chronic illnesses are most vulnerable.

You can usually reverse mild to moderate dehydration by drinking more fluids, but severe dehydration requires immediate treatment. The safest approach is to prevent dehydration. Keep an eye on fluid loss in hot weather, illness, or physical activity and drink plenty of fluids to replace what is lost.