But doctors often give hospitalized elderly patients intravenous fluids to prevent dehydration, which can lead to kidney problems, Siegel said.

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Campaigns targeting childhood diarrhoea in the 1970s and 1980s achieved success by scaling up the use of oral rehydration solution (ORS) to prevent dehydration and by educating caregivers.

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The health board said the best course of action was to stay at home, take paracetamol to relieve symptoms of any fever and to drink plenty of water to prevent dehydration.

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Dehydration, and more frequent toilet trips, can also prevent sufficient sleep.

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Three men were at the hospital being treated for dehydration and 11 were being force-fed with a liquid nutrient mix to prevent dangerous weight loss.

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