What should I do if I am dehydrated after vomiting? Scientific Rehydration and Nursing Guide
Vomiting is a common bodily reaction, but frequent vomiting can lead to dehydration, especially in children, the elderly, and those with chronic diseases. The following is a treatment plan for vomiting and dehydration that has been hotly discussed on the Internet in the past 10 days, compiled into a structured guide based on medical advice.
1. Quickly judge the degree of dehydration

| degree | adult symptoms | symptoms in children |
|---|---|---|
| Mild | Thirst and slightly reduced urine output | Slightly dry lips, 1-2 fewer diapers |
| Moderate | Dizziness, sunken eye sockets, dark urine | No tears when crying and reduced skin elasticity |
| Severe | Confusion, weak pulse | Lethargy, cold hands and feet, and no urine for more than 8 hours |
2. Home rehydration program
| Rehydration type | Preparation method | Applicable scenarios |
|---|---|---|
| Oral rehydration solution (ORS) | Mix each pack with 250ml warm water | The preferred solution, available in pharmacies |
| Homemade liquid | 500ml water + 1.75g salt + 10g sugar | Emergency use when ORS is not available |
| Rice water rehydration | Rice soup 500ml+1.5g salt | Infants and young children are more likely to accept |
3. Key points for staged processing
1. Vomiting episode period (0-2 hours)
• Stop solid food and give 5ml of rehydration solution every 5-10 minutes
• Avoid drinking large amounts of water at once which may trigger vomiting again
• Take ice cubes in your mouth to relieve nausea
2. Remission period (2-6 hours)
• Gradually increase the amount of fluid replacement to 10-15ml each time
• Try adding easily digestible foods like apple puree, bananas, etc.
• Maintain electrolyte monitoring: urine output should be >0.5ml/kg/h
3. Recovery period (after 6 hours)
• Start the BRAT diet (banana, rice cereal, apple puree, toast)
• Avoid dairy and fatty foods for at least 24 hours
• Daily fluid replenishment amount = normal requirement + loss amount (volume of vomiting × 1.5)
4. Warning signs that require immediate medical treatment
| crowd | Danger symptoms |
|---|---|
| infants | Sunken fontanelle and no urine for 8 hours |
| pregnant woman | Unable to eat for 24 hours, ketone body++ or above |
| everyone | Vomiting blood, bile-like vomitus, disturbance of consciousness |
5. Selected Q&A hotly discussed across the internet
Q: Can sports drinks replace rehydration salts?
A: Not recommended. Commercially available sports drinks contain too much sugar (about 6-8%), which may aggravate diarrhea, and the electrolyte ratio does not meet WHO standards.
Q: Can I drink water immediately after vomiting?
A: You need to wait 10-15 minutes to let your stomach rest, and then try starting with 5ml. Feeding with a spoon is safer than feeding directly with a cup.
Q: How to judge whether rehydration is effective?
A: Observe two core indicators: ① The urine output recovers and the color becomes lighter; ② The mental state improves. Children should urinate every 2 hours.
6. Precautions for special groups of people
•diabetics: Choose sugar-free rehydration salt and monitor blood sugar every hour
•postoperative patients: Consult a doctor and may require intravenous fluid rehydration
•elderly: Be wary of hyponatremia and slow down your fluid replenishment rate
Remember: prevention is better than cure. During flu season or periods of high incidence of gastroenteritis, oral rehydration salts can be kept at home. If symptoms of dehydration persist for more than 12 hours, be sure to seek professional medical help.
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