Types of dehydration:

Clinically dehydration is classified into 3 types:

1. Isotonic dehydration
2. Hypotonic dehydration
3. Hypertonic dehydration

1. Isotonic dehydration:

• In this type of dehydration there is iso-osmolarity loss of water and salt.
• It reduces extracellular fluid volume
• It occurs mainly due to acute gastroenteritis, fluid and food deprivation, repeated paracentesis in ascites and profuse sweating.
• It is manifested as mild dehydration with hyponatremia.

2. Hypotonic dehydration:

• There is loss of salt in excess of water.
• It is manifested as severe dehydration with severe hyponatremia
• It results from GI disorders, acute dilatation of stomach, pyloric stenosis, intestinal obstruction.

3. Hypertonic dehydration:

• There is deprivation of water without sodium loss.
• It is induced by insufficient water intake in case of GI disorders and diabetes insipidus.