title: [Physical diagnostic examination of dehydration].
abstract: Dehydration is an important cause of morbidity and mortality for children and the elderly. Acute loss of weight is the most reliable measure of dehydration. In addition, a range of physical diagnostic findings are used for measuring dehydration; separate clinical findings have very little predictive value. In clinical practice the need for further investigation and rehydration treatment can be assessed by combining history and physical examination.
authors.affiliation: Universitair Medisch Centrum Utrecht, afd. Huisartsgeneeskunde, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Jantien D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: de Loor
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Zietse
authors.forename: Tjeerd  O H
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: de Jongh
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D003681:Dehydration / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006801:Humans; D008487:Medical History Taking; D010808:Physical Examination / Q000379:methods*; D015431:Weight Loss / Q000502:physiology