Patient's question:
What kind of diseases can be treated by general internal medicine? How to deal with dehydration? Is there a good method?Doctor's answer:
First and foremost, patients who have lost fluids need to be rehydrated. The amount of fluid replacement should be determined based on the amount of fluid lost and the patient's weight. For example, the level of blood sodium can be used to estimate the amount of fluid lost. While rehydrating, attention should also be paid to maintaining electrolyte and acid-base balance. For cases where dehydration is caused by extensive skin loss, further blood supplementation with plasma and other blood products may be necessary. Second, treatment should be targeted at the underlying cause. For instance, if nausea and vomiting leading to dehydration are caused by acute gastroenteritis, anti-inflammatory treatment should be administered.