Editing Dehydration (section)

=== Definition ===
Dehydration occurs when water intake does not replace [[free water clearance|free water]] lost due to normal physiologic processes, including [[breathing]], [[urination]], [[perspiration]], or other causes, including [[diarrhea]], and [[vomiting]]. Dehydration can be life-threatening when severe and lead to [[seizure]]s or respiratory arrest, and also carries the risk of [[osmotic cerebral edema]] if [[Fluid replacement|rehydration]] is overly rapid.<ref>{{EMedicine|article|906999|Dehydration}}</ref>

The term "dehydration" has sometimes been used incorrectly as a proxy for the separate, related condition of [[hypovolemia]], which specifically refers to a decrease in volume of [[blood plasma]].<ref name="Mange K 1997"/> The two are regulated through independent mechanisms in humans;<ref name="Mange K 1997"/> the distinction is important in guiding treatment.<ref name="Bhave G 2011">{{cite journal | vauthors = Bhave G, Neilson EG | title = Volume depletion versus dehydration: how understanding the difference can guide therapy | journal = American Journal of Kidney Diseases | volume = 58 | issue = 2 | pages = 302–309 | date = August 2011 | pmid = 21705120 | pmc = 4096820 | doi = 10.1053/j.ajkd.2011.02.395 }}</ref>