Mrs. T has been brought into the ER with severe dehydration. Her daughter reports that Mrs. T lives alone and has recently caugh
t the norovirus, with vomiting and diarrhea for the past two days. Mrs. T seems restless and frightened; has a high fever, rapid respirations and heart rate, and pale skin; and is sweating. Her blood pressure is low.Here are several reasons for this woman's dehydration. Can you identify all of them? a. Vomiting and diarrhea b. Nervousness c. Weakness d. Pale skin e. Fever f. Sweating g. Increased heart rate h. Rapid breathing
Answer: Mrs. T's dehydration is caused by the<em>vomiting and diarrhea, sweating, rapid breathing, weakness, and fever </em>that she has been experiencing. She is losing her fluids that she has through everything listed. She needs to be given IV fluids to help hydrate her body. When a person loses more fluids than they can keep in their body, this causes dehydration which can lead to serious health issues.
