- Weight loss is the best predictor of dehydration.
- If available, document pre-illness weight and record the current weight.
- Clinical signs:
- Eyes: look for sunken appearance or conjunctival pallor.
- Mucous membranes: look inside the mouth for dry mucous membranes.
- Heart sounds: auscultate. Assess rate and rhythm.
- Radial pulse: palpate. Assess rate and rhythm (a thready pulse can be associated with sepsis).
- Abdomen: palpate. Look for ascites, where relevant.
- Symptoms of severe dehydration and shock are also present in sepsis. If in doubt, switch to sepsis (suspected) protocol.
Accessed from the Emergency Care Institute website at https://aci.health.nsw.gov.au/ecat/adult/assessment/dehydration