P74: Other transitory neonatal electrolyte and metabolic disturbances

P74.1: Dehydration of newborn

There are various reasons why a newborn baby can lose fluid. These include, for example, severe vomiting or diarrhea. Severe sweating can also result in the body losing a lot of fluid. A baby can also have too little fluid in its body if it does not drink enough.

If there is too little fluid in the child’s body there may be different indications. For example, the fontanelles in the child's head may be sunken. Fontanelles are soft spots between the skull bones that, over time, turn into bone. Other indications may be a dry mouth or crying without tears. The child may also excrete little or no urine. The child may also be more lethargic than usual.