52 Health Problems from Unsafe Water
Diarrhea and dehydration
Many people die from diarrhea diseases, especially
children. Most often, they die because they become
dehydrated.
People of any age can become dehydrated, but
serious dehydration can happen very quickly to small
children and is most dangerous for them.
Any child with watery diarrhea is in danger of dehydration.
Give lots of liquids and take young children with signs of
dehydration to a health center right away.
Signs of dehydration
Sunken and
tearless eyes
Thirst and dry mouth
Sudden
weight loss
Little or no
urine, or dark
yellow urine
Sagging of the
soft spot in infants
Loss of stretchiness of the skin
Lift the skin
between two
fingers, like this
If the skin does not
fall right back to
normal, the child is
dehydrated.
To prevent or treat dehydration
When a child has watery diarrhea or diarrhea and vomiting, do not wait for
signs of dehydration. Act quickly.
• Give lots of liquids to drink, such as a thin cereal porridge or gruel, soup,
water, or rehydration drink (see next page).
• Keep giving food. As soon as the sick child (or adult) can eat food, give
frequent feedings of foods he likes. To babies, keep giving breast milk
often — and before any other foods or drinks.
• Rehydration drink helps prevent or treat dehydration. It does not cure
diarrhea, but may support the sick person until the diarrhea stops.
A Community Guide to Environmental Health 2012