Which finding would be most indicative of severe dehydration in an infant?

Which finding would be most indicative of severe dehydration in an infant?

• A. Wet diapers
• B. Normal capillary refill
• C. Absent urine output
• D. Warm skin

Answer: (C)

When dehydration is severe, the body's blood volume drops enough to significantly reduce blood flow to the kidneys, causing little or no urine production. Absent urine output directly signals this serious reduction in perfusion and kidney function, which is a hallmark of severe dehydration in an infant. Wet diapers show that urine is still being produced, which argues against severe dehydration. A normal capillary refill implies that perfusion is not severely compromised, whereas warm skin suggests the skin is still well perfused. While all these signs matter, nothing among them indicates as clearly severe dehydration as the absence of urine output, which reflects a critical drop in intravascular volume.

When dehydration is severe, the body's blood volume drops enough to significantly reduce blood flow to the kidneys, causing little or no urine production. Absent urine output directly signals this serious reduction in perfusion and kidney function, which is a hallmark of severe dehydration in an infant.

Wet diapers show that urine is still being produced, which argues against severe dehydration. A normal capillary refill implies that perfusion is not severely compromised, whereas warm skin suggests the skin is still well perfused. While all these signs matter, nothing among them indicates as clearly severe dehydration as the absence of urine output, which reflects a critical drop in intravascular volume.