Dehydration
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Dehydration
- Dehydration is a depletion in total body fluids.
- Dehydration is first reflected in a diminution of blood volume - hypovolaemia.
- The blood becomes hypertonic or hyperosmotic.
- Fluid is withdrawn from the interstitial compartment.
- If the dehydration continues, water is drawn from the cells.
- Cellular dehydration impairs metabolic function, and death ensues.
Causes
- Either:
- Decreased intake due to lack of availability of water.
- increased losses via
- The skin (sweating)
- The gut (diarrhoea)
- The kidney (Renal disease).
Post-Mortem Appearance
- Post-mortem appearance is not dramatic.
- Sunken eyes.
- The body tissues appear dry.
- The serosal surfaces are dull.