Pediatric Dehydration Risk Tool
Assessment
EMERGENCY: If your child is unresponsive, has a high fever that won’t drop, or shows signs of extreme lethargy, call 911 or go to the nearest Emergency Room immediately.
Dehydration occurs when a child loses more fluid than they take in. It develops rapidly in infants and young children because of their small body mass and high fluid turnover rate.
Common Causes
Gastroenteritis: Severe vomiting and diarrhea from a stomach bug.
High Fevers: Speeds up fluid loss through the skin and breathing.
Poor Intake: Refusing fluids due to mouth or throat pain (e.g., strep throat, hand-foot-and-mouth disease).
Identifying the Risk Levels
| Mild to Moderate | Severe (Medical Emergency) |
| * Dry lips and sticky mouth | * Extreme lethargy or hard to wake up |
| * Few or no tears when crying | * Sunken soft spot (fontanelle) on an infant’s head |
| * No wet diapers for 6–8 hours | * Deeply sunken eyes |
| * Fussiness or irritability | * Cold, mottled hands and feet |
Action Plan
Mild to Moderate: Give small, frequent sips of an Oral Rehydration Solution (ORS) like Pedialyte (1–2 teaspoons every few minutes). Avoid plain water for infants, and do not give sugary juices or sodas, which can worsen diarrhea.
Severe: Go to the emergency room immediately. Severe cases require intravenous (IV) fluids to quickly restore hydration.
