Identifying mild, moderate, and severe dehydration Pediatrics

What is the mental status in mild dehydration?

Alert, restless, thirsty.

What is the mental status in moderate dehydration?

Irritable, lethargic (infants); restless, thirsty (older children).

What is the mental status in severe dehydration?

Lethargic to comatose, unconscious, floppy.

What are fontanels like in mild dehydration?

Normal.

What are fontanels like in moderate dehydration?

Sunken.

What are fontanels like in severe dehydration?

Markedly sunken.

What do the eyes look like in mild dehydration?

Normal.

What do the eyes look like in moderate dehydration?

Slightly sunken, decreased tears.

What do the eyes look like in severe dehydration?

Deeply sunken, no tears.

What does the oral mucosa look like in mild dehydration?

Moist.

What does the oral mucosa look like in moderate dehydration?

Dry.

What does the oral mucosa look like in severe dehydration?

Parched, very dry.

What is skin turgor like in mild dehydration?

Normal, instant recoil.

What is skin turgor like in moderate dehydration?

Slow recoil.

What is skin turgor like in severe dehydration?

Very slow recoil (>2 sec).

What is the heart rate in mild dehydration?

Normal.

What is the heart rate in moderate dehydration?

Tachycardia.

What is the heart rate in severe dehydration?

Marked tachycardia, weak pulses.

What is blood pressure in mild dehydration?

Normal.

What is blood pressure in moderate dehydration?

Normal or low.

What is blood pressure in severe dehydration?

Low, may be in shock.

What are the extremities like in mild dehydration?

Warm, normal cap refill.

What are the extremities like in moderate dehydration?

Delayed cap refill (2-3 sec), cool.

What are the extremities like in severe dehydration?

Very delayed cap refill (>3-4 sec), cold, mottled.

What is urine output like in mild dehydration?

Normal to slightly decreased.

What is urine output like in moderate dehydration?

Markedly decreased, dark urine.

What is urine output like in severe dehydration?

Minimal or absent.

What life-threatening complication can dehydration lead to?

Hypovolemic shock.