Editing Dehydration (section)

== Treatment ==
{{Main|Management of dehydration}}
The most effective treatment for minor dehydration is widely considered to be drinking water and reducing fluid loss. Plain water restores only the volume of the blood plasma, inhibiting the thirst mechanism before solute levels can be replenished.<ref>{{cite book | vauthors = Murray R, Stofan J  |chapter=Ch. 8: Formulating carbohydrate-electrolyte drinks for optimal efficacy | veditors = Maughan RJ, Murray R |title=Sports Drinks: Basic Science and Practical Aspects |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=bS12dnUsGJcC&pg=PA197 |year=2001 |publisher=CRC Press |isbn=978-0-8493-7008-3 |pages=197–224}}</ref> Consumption of solid foods can also contribute to hydration. It is estimated approximately 22% of American water intake comes from food.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Popkin |first1=Barry M |last2=D'Anci |first2=Kristen E |last3=Rosenberg |first3=Irwin H |date=August 2010 |title=Water, hydration, and health: Nutrition Reviews©, Vol. 68, No. 8 |journal=Nutrition Reviews |language=en |volume=68 |issue=8 |pages=439–458 |doi=10.1111/j.1753-4887.2010.00304.x |pmc=2908954 |pmid=20646222}}</ref> Urine concentration and frequency will return to normal as dehydration resolves.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Ostermann |first1=Marlies |last2=Shaw |first2=Andrew D. |last3=Joannidis |first3=Michael |date=2023-01-01 |title=Management of oliguria |url=https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00134-022-06909-5 |journal=Intensive Care Medicine |language=en |volume=49 |issue=1 |pages=103–106 |doi=10.1007/s00134-022-06909-5 |pmid=36266588 |issn=1432-1238}}</ref>

In some cases, correction of a dehydrated state is accomplished by the replenishment of necessary water and [[electrolyte]]s (through [[oral rehydration therapy]], or [[fluid replacement]] by [[intravenous therapy]]). As oral rehydration is less painful, non-invasive, inexpensive, and easier to provide, it is the treatment of choice for mild dehydration.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Aghsaeifard |first1=Ziba |last2=Heidari |first2=Ghobad |last3=Alizadeh |first3=Reza |date=September 2022 |title=Understanding the use of oral rehydration therapy: A narrative review from clinical practice to main recommendations |journal=Health Science Reports |language=en |volume=5 |issue=5 |pages=e827 |doi=10.1002/hsr2.827 |issn=2398-8835 |pmc=9464461 |pmid=36110343}}</ref> Solutions used for intravenous rehydration may be [[Isotonicity|isotonic]],[[Tonicity#Hypertonic solution|hypertonic]], or hypotonic depending on the cause of dehydration as well as the sodium concentration in the blood.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Kim |first=Soo Wan |date=2006 |title=Hypernatemia : Successful Treatment |journal=Electrolytes & Blood Pressure |language=en |volume=4 |issue=2 |pages=66–71 |doi=10.5049/EBP.2006.4.2.66 |issn=1738-5997 |pmc=3894528 |pmid=24459489}}</ref> Pure water injected into the veins will cause the breakdown ([[lysis]]) of red blood cells ([[erythrocytes]]).<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Tinawi |first=Mohammad |date=2021-04-21 |title=New Trends in the Utilization of Intravenous Fluids |journal=Cureus |volume=13 |issue=4 |pages=e14619 |language=en |doi=10.7759/cureus.14619 |doi-access=free |issn=2168-8184 |pmc=8140055 |pmid=34040918}}</ref>

When [[fresh water]] is unavailable (e.g. at sea or in a desert), [[seawater]] or drinks with significant [[Ethanol|alcohol]] concentration will worsen dehydration. [[Urine]] contains a lower solute concentration than seawater; this requires the kidneys to create more urine to remove the excess salt, causing more water to be lost than was consumed from seawater.<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Hall |first1=John E. |title=Guyton and Hall textbook of medical physiology |last2=Hall |first2=Michael E. |last3=Guyton |first3=Arthur C. |date=2021 |publisher=Elsevier |isbn=978-0-323-67280-1 |edition=14th |location=Philadelphia, PA}}</ref>

For severe cases of dehydration where [[fainting]], [[unconsciousness]], or other severely inhibiting symptoms are present (the patient is incapable of standing upright or thinking clearly), emergency attention is required. Fluids containing a proper balance of replacement electrolytes are given orally or intravenously with continuing assessment of electrolyte status; complete resolution is normal in all but the most extreme cases.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Gawronska |first1=Julia |last2=Koyanagi |first2=Ai |last3=López Sánchez |first3=Guillermo F. |last4=Veronese |first4=Nicola |last5=Ilie |first5=Petre Cristian |last6=Carrie |first6=Anne |last7=Smith |first7=Lee |last8=Soysal |first8=Pinar |date=2022-12-31 |title=The Prevalence and Indications of Intravenous Rehydration Therapy in Hospital Settings: A Systematic Review |journal=Epidemiologia |language=en |volume=4 |issue=1 |pages=18–32 |doi=10.3390/epidemiologia4010002 |doi-access=free |issn=2673-3986 |pmc=9844368 |pmid=36648776}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal | vauthors = Ellershaw JE, Sutcliffe JM, Saunders CM | title = Dehydration and the dying patient | journal = Journal of Pain and Symptom Management | volume = 10 | issue = 3 | pages = 192–197 | date = April 1995 | pmid = 7629413 | doi = 10.1016/0885-3924(94)00123-3 | doi-access = free }}</ref>