Diarrhea & dehydration

Published

Specializes in emergency nursing.

I just want to clear things up? if diarrhea could not coz dehydration?

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in School Nursing.

huh ?

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Neuro ICU and Med Surg.

Diarrhea CAN cause dehydration.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in emergency nursing.
I just want to clear things up? if diarrhea could not coz dehydration?

I had encountered an 87yr. old male client who had watery stools for 2 days and advised the family to bring their father to the hospital for admission for fluid replacement and further assessment and evaluation. but upon examination. they were informed by the attending Physician at the emergency department that a person cant be dehydrated by just having a diarrhea! so they discharged the patient.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in LTC, Disease Management, smoking Cessati.
I had encountered an 87yr. old male client who had watery stools for 2 days and advised the family to bring their father to the hospital for admission for fluid replacement and further assessment and evaluation. but upon examination. they were informed by the attending Physician at the emergency department that a person cant be dehydrated by just having a diarrhea! so they discharged the patient.

What?!?!? they certainly can be! Scary stuff. :bugeyes:

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in M/S,TELE,ORTHO,ER.
I had encountered an 87yr. old male client who had watery stools for 2 days and advised the family to bring their father to the hospital for admission for fluid replacement and further assessment and evaluation. but upon examination. they were informed by the attending Physician at the emergency department that a person cant be dehydrated by just having a diarrhea! so they discharged the patient.

Get the heck out!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ED, ICU, Heme/Onc.

The key here is "upon examination". The patient was examined. The family reports two days of watery stool. We don't know how much stool was actually being passed, how little or much the patient was taking in PO, and if his labs checked out fine, his vital signs were all in range and he didn't appear dehydrated, then he should be discharged.

Not everyone who reports diarrhea for two days has the same definition of "diarrhea for two days" - that could mean going twice in 24 hrs. or going every 15 minutes, and waking up every hour at night!

Absolutely yes, diarrhea can dehydrate people and cause them to be sick enough to be admitted to the hospital, but it's far better to discharge a patient from the ER who is capable of taking care of themselves at home, rather than take up a med/surg (or worse, a 'tele-obs') bed for dehydration risk.

Blee

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in M/S,TELE,ORTHO,ER.

I don't have an issue with the m.d. saying the patient isn't dehydrated;I have an issue with can't be dehydrated. That bothers me.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion