Question

list 2 sign and symptoms of dehydration and why is important to ensure hydration and nutrition of patient

Answer 1

Dehydration occurs as a result of excess of loss of fluids. Normally water lose from body every day through respiration,sweating,urine,feces and saliva. If losing lot of water results in dehydration. The most common conditions in which fluid loss is more includes: diarrhea, pro fused vomiting, pro fused sweat, polyuria resulting from diabetes mellitus.

The signs of dehydration includes:

- dry skin , tachycardia, coated tongue,sunken eyes,confusion,increased irritability, syncope.

Hydration is essential for entire normal functioning of the human body. Inadequate nutrition leads to fatigue,loss of energy, brittle hair, frequent mouth ulcers, poor vision. Lack of hydration leads to systemic complications like hypotension, dizziness,inelastic skin.

Nurses must take special care to take care of hydration and nutritional component especially for vulnerable and dependent patient. Assessing nutritional status of the patient is essential, maintaining patients ideal body weight and maintaining intake output chart helps to assess nutrition and fluid status.