Current:Home > ScamsCan dehydration cause fever? What to know about dehydration and symptoms to watch for -TradeCircle
Can dehydration cause fever? What to know about dehydration and symptoms to watch for
View
Date:2025-04-19 03:16:52
In order to function properly, humans need to drink water. In fact, over 50% of the human body is composed of water.
As temperatures rise, it is important to stay hydrated. Drinking water can cool you down, keep bowel movements consistent and help your skin look smooth and soft.
When you're having fun in the sun and are spending hours outdoors, it's easy to forget to drink water. But if you are not hydrating enough, you could become dehydrated.
Here is what to know about dehydration, including its symptoms.
What is dehydration?
Dehydration occurs when your body does not have the sufficient amount of fluids (primarily water) it needs to function. In short, you are losing or using more fluids than you are taking in.
The human body loses fluids in many ways, such as sweating, breathing, urination and defecation, as well as through tears and saliva. In general, you become dehydrated when you are not actively and adequately replacing the lost fluids.
You can become dehydrated as a result of other health conditions, such as diarrhea, vomiting or excessive sweating.
Anyone can become dehydrated but those at higher risk are infants, children and older people. Dehydration can also be worsened by pre-existing conditions if they lead to loss of fluids, such as diabetes causing frequent urination.
Infants cannot and children often do not communicate when they are thirsty, making them more prone to dehydration. The same goes for older people, especially those who have cognitive issues.
Can dehydration cause fever?
No, dehydration does not cause fever, according to the Cleveland Clinic. However, having a fever can cause dehydration.
Many diseases or disorders that cause fever can lead to dehydration. The higher your fever, the more dehydrated you may become, according to the Mayo Clinic.
When your body temperature increases so does your breath rate and metabolism, causing you to release more fluids.
Dehydration symptoms
Dehydration symptoms vary depending on someone's age, according to the Cleveland Clinic and Mayo Clinic.
In adults, dehydration symptoms can include:
- Extreme thirst
- Less frequent urination
- Dark-colored urine
- Fatigue
- Chills
- Constipation
- Dizziness
- Red (flushed) skin
- Loss of appetite
- Muscle cramps
- Confusion, headache
In infants or children, dehydration symptoms can include:
- Dry tongue, mouth and lips
- No tears when crying
- Sunken eyes, cheeks
- Sunken soft spot on top of infant's head
- Irritability
- Less frequent urination
- Dry skin
If you or someone experiences any of the symptoms for a prolonged period, seek medical attention.
Just Curious for more? We've got you covered
USA TODAY is exploring the questions you and others ask every day. From "How much water should you drink?" to "What is a heat wave?" to "How long does alcohol stay in your system?", we're striving to find answers to the most common questions you ask every day. Head to our Just Curious section to see what else we can answer for you.
veryGood! (28)
Related
- Apple iOS 18.2: What to know about top features, including Genmoji, AI updates
- Rep. Adam Schiff says Biden should drop out, citing serious concerns about ability to beat Trump
- Lucas Turner: Should you time the stock market?
- Thailand officials say poisoning possible as 6 found dead in Bangkok hotel, including Vietnamese Americans
- Bill Belichick's salary at North Carolina: School releases football coach's contract details
- Jack Black cancels Tenacious D tour as Australia officials criticize Kyle Gass' Trump comment
- British Open ’24: How to watch, who are the favorites and more to know about golf’s oldest event
- Video shows bear walk up to front door of Florida home: Watch
- Meta donates $1 million to Trump’s inauguration fund
- Lucas Turner: The Essence of Investing in U.S. Treasuries.
Ranking
- Backstage at New York's Jingle Ball with Jimmy Fallon, 'Queer Eye' and Meghan Trainor
- Missouri high court clears the way for a woman’s release after 43 years in prison
- Caitlin Clark sets record for most assists in a WNBA game: Fever vs. Wings stats
- The Grateful Dead and Francis Ford Coppola are among the newest Kennedy Center Honors recipients
- New Zealand official reverses visa refusal for US conservative influencer Candace Owens
- Florida teenager survives 'instantaneous' lightning strike: Reports
- In deal with DOJ and ACLU, Tennessee agrees to remove sex workers with HIV from sex offender registry
- Honolulu officers who handcuffed 10-year-old can be sued for using excessive force, judges rule
Recommendation
A White House order claims to end 'censorship.' What does that mean?
Stegosaurus named Apex goes for $44.6M at auction, most expensive fossil ever sold
Prime Day 2024 Last Chance Deal: Get 57% Off Yankee Candles While You Still Can
Bertram Charlton: Compound interest, the egg story
Current, future North Carolina governor’s challenge of power
After crash that killed 6 teens, NTSB chief says people underestimate marijuana’s impact on drivers
Kris Jenner Shares Results of Ovary Tumor After Hysterectomy
Cucumbers sold at Walmart stores in Michigan, Ohio and Indiana recalled due to listeria