Causes of Dehydration

In humans, dehydration can be caused by a wide range of diseases and states that impair water homeostasis in the body. These include:

• External or stress-related causes
  • Prolonged physical activity with sweating without consuming adequate water, especially in a hot and/or dry environment
  • Prolonged exposure to dry air, e.g. in high-flying airplanes (5–12% relative humidity)
  • Blood loss or hypotension due to physical trauma
  • Diarrhea
  • Hyperthermia
  • Shock (hypovolemic)
  • Vomiting
  • Burns
  • Lacrimation
  • Use of methamphetamine, amphetamine, caffeine and other stimulants
  • Excessive consumption of alcoholic beverages

• Infectious diseases
  • Cholera
  • Gastroenteritis
  • Shigellosis
  • Yellow fever

• Malnutrition
  • Electrolyte disturbance
    • Hypernatremia (also caused by dehydration)
    • Hyponatremia, especially from restricted salt diets
    • Fasting
    • Recent rapid weight loss may reflect progressive depletion of fluid volume (the loss of 1 L of fluid results in a weight loss of 1 kg (2.2 lb)).
    • Patient refusal of nutrition and hydration
    • Inability to swallow (obstruction of the oesophagus)

• Other causes of obligate water loss
  • Severe hyperglycemia, especially in Diabetes mellitus
    • Glycosuria
    • Uremia

Further Reading

• Dehydration - What is Dehydration?
• Dehydration Symptoms
• Dehydration Treatment

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