Elevated temp and dehydration

[nursesaurus]

Somewhere along my nursing career I heard a sign of dehydration can be an elevated temperature. I can not find any literature to support this. Has anyone else heard this? Any input? Is it a symptom or could dehydration cause an elevated temp? Thanks!

[RN1263]

I've always thought an elevated temp. "causes" dehydration not the other way around. that's why they say to push fluids when you have a temp. so you don't become dehydrated.

[kat7464]

I agree with RN1263 - the elevated temp is a cause for dehydration as the body tries to cool itself. Keep fluids flowing!

[nursesaurus]

OK Thanks so much guys! Makes sense now!

[4evernrs]

A slightly elevated temp can be an early symptom of dehydration -

I remember this from nursing school....but have also seen it many times in the field.

[cathrn64]

I too have noticed a slightly elevated temp when a pt is dehydrated. Usually around 99

[tewdles, RN]

I think that we can correctly list fever as both a cause and a symptom of dehydration.

[caliotter3]

Seems to me I heard the same thing. Something to look for.

[JenniferGuthrie]

High temp can dry you out, so to speak, but I think the answer you are looking for as to how dehydration can cause a fever has to do with the fact that when you are very dehydrated, you lose the ability to sweat. Sweating is a mechanism for how the body cools itself when conditions are too hot...it can't do that, so your temperature rises.