Severe dehydration
Severe dehydration means:
- Your mouth and eyes are extremely dry.
- You pass little or no urine for 12 or more hours.
- You do not feel alert, or you cannot think clearly.
- You are too weak or dizzy to stand.
- You may pass out.
Severe dehydration is a medical emergency and requires emergency treatment. Call911or other emergency services immediately.
By the time a person becomes severely dehydrated, there is no longer enough fluid in the body to carry enough blood to vital organs. Shock, which is a life-threatening condition, can develop quickly.
| Author | Jan Nissl, RN, BS |
| Editor | Susan Van Houten, RN, BSN, MBA |
| Associate Editor | Tracy Landauer |
| Primary Medical Reviewer | Martin Gabica, MD - Family Medicine |
| Primary Medical Reviewer | William M. Green, MD - Emergency Medicine |
| Specialist Medical Reviewer | H. Michael O'Connor, MD - Emergency Medicine |
| Specialist Medical Reviewer | William H. Blahd, Jr., MD, FACEP - Emergency Medicine |
| Last Updated | June 30, 2009 |
WebMD Medical Reference from Healthwise
Last Updated:
June 30, 2009
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