Table 2.

Clinical symptoms of dehydration in infants and children

Findings	Mild (3%–5%)	Moderate (6%–9%)	Severe (10%)
	In case of 3%–9% water loss, ORT is required. Rehydration phase: administration of 50–100 ml/kg ORS every 4 h.		Volume loss ≥10%
	Maintenance phase: nutrition and fluids should be resumed, and ORT is continued		Rehydration phase: administration of 20 ml/kg body weight isotonic saline. When the patient is stable, ORS to be administered 25–100 ml/kg ORS every 4 h.
			Maintenance phase: nutrition and fluids along with ORS
Pulse	Fill, normal number	Fast	Fast and weak or absent
Systolic pressure	Normal	Normal or low	Down
Breathing	Normal	Deep, the respiratory rate may increase	Deep, rapid, or decreased breathing or lack of breathing
Oral mucosa	Sticky or slightly dry	Dry	Fragile
Anterior Fontanel	Normal	Submerged	Significantly sunk
Eyes	Normal	Goodbye	Significantly reduced
Skin turgor	Normal	Decreased	Clad
Skin	Normal	Cold	Cold, lattice, edges black
The amount of urine	Normal or mildly reduced	Dropped significantly	No urine
Systemic symptoms	Increased thirst	Inattention, irritability	Breathable, loose breaths, coma

Abbreviations: ORS, oral rehydration solution; ORT, oral rehydration therapy.