Editing Dehydration (section)

=== Physical examination ===
[[File:UOTW 59 - Ultrasound of the Week 1.webm|thumb|Ultrasound of the blood vessels of the neck that supports the diagnosis of severe dehydration<ref>
{{cite web|title=UOTW#59 - Ultrasound of the Week|url=https://www.ultrasoundoftheweek.com/uotw-59/|website=Ultrasound of the Week|access-date=27 May 2017|date=23 September 2015}}</ref>|229x229px]]Common exam findings of dehydration include dry mucous membranes, dry axillae, increased capillary refill time, sunken eyes, and poor [[skin turgor]].<ref>{{Cite journal | vauthors = Huffman GB |date=1999-09-15 |title=Establishing a Bedside Diagnosis of Hypovolemia |url=https://www.aafp.org/pubs/afp/issues/1999/0915/p1220a.html |journal=American Family Physician |language=en-US |volume=60 |issue=4 |pages=1220–1225}}</ref><ref name = "Hooper_2015" /> More extreme cases of dehydration can lead to orthostatic hypotension, dizziness, weakness, and altered mental status.<ref>{{Cite journal | vauthors = Braun MM, Barstow CH, Pyzocha NJ |date=2015-03-01 |title=Diagnosis and Management of Sodium Disorders: Hyponatremia and Hypernatremia |url= https://www.aafp.org/pubs/afp/issues/2015/0301/p299.html#:~:text=33-,DIAGNOSTIC%20APPROACH,sodium%20gain%20(Table%202).&text=Patients%20are%20often%20asymptomatic%20but,12%20(Figure%20335%20). |journal=American Family Physician |language=en-US |volume=91 |issue=5 |pages=299–307|pmid=25822386 }}</ref> Depending on the underlying cause of dehydration, other symptoms may be present as well. Excessive sweating from exercise may be associated with muscle cramps. Patients with gastrointestinal water loss from vomiting or diarrhea may also have fever or other systemic signs of infection.

The skin [[Turgor pressure|turgor]] test can be used to support the diagnosis of dehydration. The skin turgor test is conducted by pinching skin on the patient's body, in a location such as the forearm or the back of the hand, and watching to see how quickly it returns to its normal position. The skin turgor test can be unreliable in patients who have reduced skin elasticity, such as the elderly.<ref>{{Cite book | vauthors = Thomas J, Monaghan T |url= https://books.google.com/books?id=PF-yAwAAQBAJ |title=Oxford Handbook of Clinical Examination and Practical Skills |date=2014 |publisher=Oxford University Press |isbn=978-0-19-959397-2 |language=en}}</ref>