In short — how the symptoms progress
- Early: thirst, dry mouth, scant dark urine, mild headache and fatigue.
- Moderate: dizziness on standing, fast pulse, sunken eyes, skin that loses its spring.
- Severe — an emergency: confusion, fainting, no urination for eight hours or more, cold limbs.
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The full details
Signs, in rising order of danger
- Early: thirst, dry mouth, scant dark urine, mild headache and fatigue.
- Moderate: dizziness on standing, fast pulse, sunken eyes, skin that loses its spring.
- Severe — an emergency: confusion, fainting, no urination for eight hours or more, cold limbs.
Replacing fluids correctly at home
- Oral rehydration solution (ORS) from the pharmacy is best — water, sugar and salts in studied proportions.
- Drink small frequent sips, not large amounts at once — especially with vomiting.
- Avoid coffee and very sugary fizzy drinks — they can worsen the losses.
- Keep replacing with every episode of diarrhoea or vomiting, not only after they stop.
Watch these people especially
- The elderly: their thirst sense is weak to begin with — offer drinks, don't wait to be asked.
- Diabetics: dehydration with high sugar is a combination that accelerates towards danger.
- Anyone on diuretics or blood-pressure medicines: ask your doctor about "sick day rules" for any stomach bug.
To the ER
- Confusion, or dizziness too severe to stand.
- Unable to keep any fluid down for more than 12 hours.
- No urination for eight hours or more.
- Bloody diarrhoea or an accompanying high fever.
Worth knowing
Urine colour is the most honest home gauge: pale straw yellow = you're fine, dark like apple juice = replace fluids now. Don't wait for thirst to tell you.
This content is for general health education only and is not medical advice. Always seek guidance from a qualified healthcare professional. In an emergency, call 998.