What should a nurse monitor in a child suffering from dehydration?

Monitoring the child's weight and urine output is crucial in a situation of dehydration. Both of these indicators provide important information about the child's fluid status and overall hydration.

Weight measurement is a direct way to assess fluid loss; significant weight changes can indicate the severity of dehydration. A decrease in weight can reflect a loss of water, electrolytes, and other body fluids, which is critical in determining how dehydrated the child may be and the necessary interventions.

Urine output, on the other hand, is an important parameter indicating kidney function and hydration status. In dehydrated children, urine output typically decreases as the body tries to conserve water. Monitoring this helps in evaluating the effectiveness of rehydration therapies and in guiding further treatment decisions.

While observing changes in behavior can provide indirect clues about hydration status, it is not as direct or reliable as monitoring weight and urine output. Similarly, tracking carbohydrate intake and appetite for solid foods is less relevant to assessing dehydration, as hydration status is primarily determined by fluid balance rather than dietary intake.