Dehydration mistakes to know about and avoid

It is that time of the year when common cold and cough are frequently encountered symptoms by all. On an average, adults get 4 to 6 colds per year. Cold and cough may be allergic in nature or associated with bacterial and/or viral infections which is commonly referred to as upper respiratory tract infections (URTI).

As per national health portal of India more than 4 crore cases of respiratory tract infections were reported in 2019. In addition to cough, patient may have complaints like sore throat, fever, muscle pain, runny nose, nasal blockage and can experience fatigue but what tends to get missed or overlooked during these conditions are the signs of dehydration.

What is dehydration?
In an interview with HT Lifestyle, Dr Abdul Majid Khan, Consultant Physician and Diabetologist at Olive Hospital in Hyderabad, shared, “Dehydration means depletion of body fluids due to either excessive losses or reduced intake or both. All types of fluids lost contain electrolytes in varying quantities, so fluid loss is always accompanied by some degree of electrolyte loss.

This is referred to as silent dehydration, as one can miss it due to lack of awareness. Silent dehydration is a widespread concern which is also seen due to common cold and cough associated with upper respiratory tract infections. Electrolytes like sodium and chloride help to maintain body fluid balance while potassium, calcium and magnesium are involved in proper functioning of nerves and muscles.”

He explained, “In upper respiratory tract infections, fever itself leads to dehydration (fluid and electrolyte deficit) due to excessive sweating and increased breathing. Further as body consumes energy to fight the infection, increased energy requirements may lead to energy deficits. Sore throat which is a common initial symptom can impair fluid intake further adding up to dehydration. The deficit is further magnified due to inadequate intake of food and fluids cumulatively leading to fluid electrolyte energy deficits.”

Impact of fluid, electrolyte and energy losses in URTI
According to Dr Abdul Majid Khan, fluid, electrolyte and energy deficit in viral infection and URTI may lead to muscle pain, muscle cramp and muscle weakness.

He elaborated, “Furthermore, dehydration may lead to thickening of secretions that become difficult to clear from lungs. Dehydration may also negatively impact respiratory symptoms like cough, impair immunity, delay recovery and increase the chances of recurrent infections. In a Knowledge Attitude and Practices study conducted with Indian physicians, it was found that these deficits in upper respiratory tract infections have high impact on recovery. The patient may continue to experience fatigue and muscle pain which will hamper their recovery.”