Question

1. Describe the pathophysiology of dehydration.

2. Which types of dehydration are most often associated with heat related illnesses?

3. What electrolyte findings are common with these types of dehydration?

4. What assessment findings are consistent with dehydration?

5. Describe the difference between heat cramps, heat exhaustion and heat stroke.

6. How do symptoms and treatments differ for these three heat related illnesses?

7. What are the signs of rehydration?

Answer 1

dehydration is the negative fluid balance in the body. it may be due to various factors such as decreased fluid intake (stomatitis, pharyngitis), increased fluid output( diarrhea, vomiting, diabetic ketoacidosis, febrile illness), fluid loss (sweating), fluid shift (ascites, effusion and capillary leak( burns, sepsis)leads to a decrease in intravascular fluid volume.

1. PATHOPHYSIOLOGY OF DEHYDRATION

due to etiological factors causes a decrease in intracellular and extracellular fluid volume. as intracellular fluid volume reduces the body tries to increase fluid volume in the cells .thus extracellular fluid volume decreases, as the condition progresses, hypovolemic shock occurs, due to decrease in blood distribution to vital organs, ischemia occurs and lately organ failure and death

2.HYPERTONIC DEHYDRATION caused due to heat-related illnesses like heat cramps, heat exhaustion, heatstroke

here, water loss is more than loss of salt leads to shifting of fluid to cells, thus blood become hypertonic and occurs hypertonic dehydration.in heat related water loss, due to excessive sweating..

other types of dehydration are ;

• hyptotonic dehydration due to vomiting or diarrhea, use of thiazide diuretics, water replacement without electrolyte replacement.
• isotonic dehydration ; mainly due to fluid shifts

3. LAB FINDING OF HYPERTONIC DEHYDRATION

• increased sodium in blood (hypernatremia)
• increased blood urea nitrogen
• increased blood glucose

4. assessment findings of dehydration

• thirst
• decreased urine output
• weight loss,
• decreased skin turgor
• dry mucous membranes
• increased capillary refill time
• postural hypotension
• tachycardia with weak thready pulse
• depressed fontanelle
• sunken eyes
• incresed respiration