Dehydration occurs when your body loses too much fluid. This can
happen when you stop drinking water or lose large amounts of
fluid through diarrhea, vomiting, sweating, or exercise. Not
drinking enough fluids can cause muscle cramps. You may feel
faint. Usually your body can reabsorb fluid from your blood and
other body tissues. But by the time you become severely
dehydrated, you no longer have enough fluid in your body to get
blood to your organs, and you may go into shock, which is a
life-threatening condition. Dehydration can occur in anyone of
any age, but it is most dangerous for babies, small children,
and older adults. Dehydration in babies and small children
Babies and small children have an increased chance of becoming
dehydrated because: Dehydration in older adults Older adults
have an increased chance of becoming dehydrated because they
may: Watch babies, small children, and older adults closely for
the early symptoms of dehydration anytime they have illnesses
that cause high fever, vomiting, or d