Cent Eur J Nurs Midw 2010, 1(1):10-16

Evidence supporting reliability of indicators of body fluids deficit in children

Lucie Sikorová*, Radka Bužgová
Department od Nursing and Midwifery, Faculty of Health Studies, University of Ostrava

Aim: To examine reliability of symptoms and usual tests that are recommended for evaluation of the body fluids deficit in the child's age (suckling infants and children up to 5 years).

Methods: Searching out valid indicators of the body fluids deficit in the child's age (1 month - 5 years) using the method of evidence-based practice. Professional license databases and freely available databases - Medline, ProQuest, Google, Google Scholar, Web of Science, Springer, Blackwell, Willey, and Science Direct were used for obtaining relevant sources.

Outcomes: The analysis of outcomes did not prove definite reliability of individual indicators of the body fluids deficit. Most outcomes corresponded in clinical significance of indicators of the body fluids deficit - prolonged capillary refill time, abnormal skin turgor, abnormal breathing, sunken eyes and dry mucous membranes. Other symptoms were termed as complementary.

Conclusions: Review studies (12 studies) and one systematic review show a few pieces of evidence that prove reliability of recommended evaluated symptoms showing for dehydration in children, but on a very low or a low level. According to all authors, the assessment of the combination of all dehydration indicators has got the best predictive value.

Keywords: dehydration, a child, symptoms, diagnostics

Published: March 30, 2010  Show citation

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Sikorová L, Bužgová R. Evidence supporting reliability of indicators of body fluids deficit in children. Ošetřovatelství a porodní asistence. 2010;1(1):10-16.
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