Infants dehydrating quickly during vomiting and diarrhea is primarily due to which factor?

Infants dehydrating quickly during vomiting and diarrhea is primarily due to which factor?

• A. Infants Have Slower Metabolism
• B. Infants Have Higher Body Water Percentage
• C. Infants Have Lower Water Needs
• D. Infants Have Stronger Kidneys

Answer: (B)

Infants are particularly prone to rapid dehydration because a larger portion of their body weight is water. Newborns and young infants have about three-quarters of their weight as body water, compared with roughly 60% in adults. When vomiting or diarrhea causes fluid loss, that same volume represents a bigger deficit for an infant, so dehydration develops quickly. Their higher surface area-to-weight ratio also increases fluid loss, and their kidneys are immature, making it harder to conserve water, but the main factor reflected in the options is the higher percentage of body water.

Infants are particularly prone to rapid dehydration because a larger portion of their body weight is water. Newborns and young infants have about three-quarters of their weight as body water, compared with roughly 60% in adults. When vomiting or diarrhea causes fluid loss, that same volume represents a bigger deficit for an infant, so dehydration develops quickly. Their higher surface area-to-weight ratio also increases fluid loss, and their kidneys are immature, making it harder to conserve water, but the main factor reflected in the options is the higher percentage of body water.