More than 10% dehydration in a child

If a child loses more than 10% body weight; the child is classified as having “severe dehydration”.

Two or more of the below signs are present:

• general appearance - lethargic or unconscious
• eyes – sunken
• thirst – drinks poorly, or not able to drink
• skin pinch - goes back very slowly (1).

Note:

• being lethargic and sleepy are not the same. A lethargic child is not simply asleep: the child's mental state is dull and the child cannot be fully awakened; the child may appear to be drifting into unconsciousness
• in some infants and children the eyes normally appear somewhat sunken. It is helpful to ask the mother if the child's eyes are normal or more sunken than usual
• the skin pinch is less useful in infants or children with marasmus or kwashiorkor, or obese children (1).

Reference:

• (1) World Health Organization (WHO) 2005. The treatment of diarrhoea. A manual for physicians and other senior health workers