IV hydration is a process that is used to replace fluids that are lost in the body. In two situations, the use of IV fluids can help prevent serious illnesses from developing or hasten recovery from an illness. One example is when someone is dehydrated or drinking too much fluid, and there are associated risks for them. Another example would be someone who has been through surgery or trauma and has been given medication to reduce their blood pressure which would be made more difficult with ordinary tissue water losses.

If you are dehydrated, one of the most common symptoms is losing water from the body. This may be because of not drinking enough water or a symptom related to an illness or an injury. When you do not have enough fluids in your body, your body starts absorbing fluids from other areas, including your blood vessels and even tissue which lowers the amount of fluid.

 Instances When You Should Get IV Hydration

Dehydration

When you do not have enough fluids in your body, your body starts absorbing fluids from other areas, including your blood vessels and even tissue which lowers the amount of fluid. If you are dehydrated, one of the most common symptoms is losing water from the body. This may be because of not drinking enough water or a symptom related to an illness or an injury. If a person becomes very dehydrated, then they can go into shock.

Surgery

During surgery, large amounts of fluid are lost due to the use of medication to lower blood pressure and other treatments such as anesthetics. There are risks to surgery when there is not enough fluid in the body, so blood from a vein is removed from the patient and given through an IV drip containing medicine to lower the patient’s blood pressure and elevate fluids in the body. If a person is given too little fluid during surgery, their body can go into shock, which is dangerous for the patient. Steer clear of dehydration, even if you are supposed to be drinking water.

Trauma

When a person’s blood pressure has been lowered by medication, they may be given IV injections to increase the blood pressure. This is known as ‘Blood Transfusion.’When there is trauma or injury, the body will lose fluid. If there is not enough fluid in the body, the blood vessels and cells will be damaged, giving way to internal bleeding. The IV will prevent this.

During Disease Treatment

When a person is being treated for an illness, their body must do more work to maintain itself. This can mean that the body does not have enough energy to maintain fluids, and the body can go into shock if there is not enough fluid in the body. Anytime you cannot drink water or are advised not to drink, IV fluids are administered. The IV fluids help replenish nutrients and electrolytes lost through sweating or vomiting.

For Infants and Children

Infants and children tend to lose fluid due to vomiting, diarrhea, or a fever. Dehydration can be fatal in infants and children because they have a low amount of body fat that can be used to preserve fluids when they need it more than usual. Babies and toddlers also lose fluid in their stools. If the diaper does not get changed in time, the baby could go into shock from dehydration. Below are recommendations for giving IV fluids to an infant:

• Infants under three months old should have 12 to 16 ounces (355-473 ml) of fluid given through an IV at regular intervals. This can be given for as long as 4 hours after diarrhea is present.
• Infants between 3 and 6 months old should have 12 to 20 ounces (355-591 ml) of fluid given through an IV at regular intervals. This can be given for as long as 4 hours after diarrhea is present.
• Infants 6 to 12 months old should have 16 to 32 ounces (473-946 ml) of fluid given through an IV at regular intervals. This can be given for as long as 4 hours after diarrhea is present.

In conclusion, IV hydration is a process used to replace fluids lost in the body. In three situations, the use of IV fluids can help prevent serious illnesses from developing or hasten recovery from an illness. One example is when someone is dehydrated or drinking too much fluid, and there are associated risks for them. Another example is someone who has been through surgery or trauma and has been given medication to reduce their blood pressure, which would be more difficult with ordinary tissue water losses. If you are ready to get started on IV hydration, please contact us for more information at 205-352-9141.