Dehydration due to mild to moderate diarrhea or vomiting may produce symptoms such as:

• Few or no tears when crying
• Dry, sticky mouth and tongue
• Fatigue or feeling sleepy; inactivity in children
• Irritability
• Headache, dizziness or lightheadedness

Contact a physician if you or your child show signs of severe dehydration including symptoms of shock, inability to drink, increased thirst, decreased urination, sunken eyes, swelling of the feet or lower legs and/or bloody or mucus-like stools.

Normally, the sodium secreted by your intestine is almost completely reabsorbed so that the correct amount of sodium circulating in your body can be maintained. But when the water and sodium secreted by the intestine passes through your gut too quickly to be reabsorbed, which is what happens when you have diarrhea, this leads to low levels of sodium, which can lead to other conditions if not treated. Sodium is one of the main ingredients in oral rehydration solutions.

Drinking a sufficient amount of water is usually the best way to avoid becoming dehydrated on a daily basis. Get in the habit of drinking a glass of water first thing in the morning and continually throughout the day. But if your electrolyte balance has been compromised by mild to moderate diarrhea or vomiting, oral rehydration solution can be taken to prevent dehydration and replenish your body’s essential mineral, fluid and electrolyte balance.

If a child cannot or will not drink the rehydration solution from a cup or bottle, give small frequent amounts of the rehydration solution with a medicine dropper or small teaspoon. Call your doctor if there is fever or if vomiting and/or diarrhea persist for more than 24 hours.

Many sports drinks and juices contain too much salt and/or sugar, and water alone does not contain enough salt, so these are not the best solutions for rehydration in cases of diarrhea or vomiting. Electrolyte Gastro® is a carefully balanced rehydration solution made from water, electrolytes, salts and sugars which are easily absorbed by the body, helping to restore fluids and minerals lost through mild to moderate diarrhea and vomiting.