Dehydration and Volume Depletion

Course overview

The average adult's body consists of a significant amount of water. A normal balance of water in the body is crucial to maintaining good health and managing diseases. The consequence of fluid losses can lead to significant health problems if fluid loss is not remedied. Establishing the cause or causes of fluid balance abnormalities can be challenging. A clinician must be able to interpret clinical observations and laboratory tests to understand if a patient has normal water loss that may be replenished or whether there is a medical reason for the water loss that requires intervention. Dehydration and volume depletion are associated with water loss but they are distinctive concepts that require different management and treatment approaches. A careful assessment of a patient's symptoms and laboratory results can guide a clinician into a proper diagnosis and lay a foundation for a treatment plan that will provide the patient with the best outcome.