From: Comparing the accuracy of the three popular clinical dehydration scales in children with diarrhea
Characteristic | No or minimal dehydration | Moderate to severe dehydration |
---|---|---|
General appearance | Alert | Restless, lethargic, unconscious |
Capillary refill | Normal | Prolonged or minimal |
Tears | Present | Absent |
Mucous membranes | Moist | Dry, very dry |
Eyes | Normal | Sunken; deeply sunken |
Breathing | Present | Deep; deep and rapid |
Quality of pulses | Normal | Thready; weak or impalpable |
Skin elasticity | Instant recoil | Recoil slowly; recoil > 2 s |
Heart rate | Normal | Tachycardia |
Urine output | Normal | Reduced; not passed in many hours |