Childhood Skin Problems Slideshow Childhood Illnesses You Should Know Slideshow Take the ADHD Quiz!

Medical Author:

Robert Ferry Jr., MD

Robert Ferry Jr., MD

Robert Ferry Jr., MD, is a U.S. board-certified Pediatric Endocrinologist. After taking his baccalaureate degree from Yale College, receiving his doctoral degree and residency training in pediatrics at University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio (UTHSCSA), he completed fellowship training in pediatric endocrinology at The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia.

View Full Profile

Medical Editor:

Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD, Chief Medical Editor

Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD, Chief Medical Editor

Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD, is a U.S. board-certified Anatomic Pathologist with subspecialty training in the fields of Experimental and Molecular Pathology. Dr. Stöppler's educational background includes a BA with Highest Distinction from the University of Virginia and an MD from the University of North Carolina. She completed residency training in Anatomic Pathology at Georgetown University followed by subspecialty fellowship training in molecular diagnostics and experimental pathology.

View Full Profile

Causes of Dehydration in Children

• Dehydration is most often caused by a viral infection that causes fever, diarrhea, vomiting, and a decreased ability to drink or eat.
  
  
  • Common viral infections causing vomiting and diarrhea include rotavirus, Norwalk virus, and adenovirus.
    
    
  • Sometimes sores in a child's mouth (caused by a virus) make it painful to eat or drink, which helps to cause or worsen dehydration.
  
  
• More serious bacterial infections may make a child less likely to eat and may cause vomiting and diarrhea.
  
  
  • Common bacterial infections include Salmonella, Escherichia coli, Campylobacter, and Clostridium difficile.
  
  
• Parasitic infections such as Giardia lamblia cause the condition known as giardiasis , which can lead to diarrhea and fluid loss.
  
  
• Increased sweating from a very hot environment can cause dehydration.
  
  
• Excessive urination caused by unrecognized or poorly treated diabetes mellitus (not taking insulin) or diabetes insipidus are other causes.
  
  
• Conditions such as cystic fibrosis or celiac sprue do not allow food to be absorbed and can cause dehydration.