Clients who are dehydrated may experience which of the following urinary symptoms?

Clients who are dehydrated may experience which of the following urinary symptoms?

• A. Hematuria
• B. Polyuria
• C. Retention
• D. Urgency

Answer: (D)

When someone is dehydrated, the body conserves water, so the urine becomes more concentrated and the overall urine volume drops. Concentrated urine can irritate the bladder lining, which can trigger a stronger, more immediate urge to urinate. That sense of needing to void quickly even if the bladder isn’t very full is what we describe as urinary urgency. Other options don’t fit as well. Hematuria (blood in the urine) isn’t a direct result of dehydration alone and would point to another issue such as stones or infection. Polyuria is exactly the opposite of dehydration—producing abnormally large amounts of urine. Retention is difficulty emptying the bladder, which isn’t a typical consequence of dehydration.

When someone is dehydrated, the body conserves water, so the urine becomes more concentrated and the overall urine volume drops. Concentrated urine can irritate the bladder lining, which can trigger a stronger, more immediate urge to urinate. That sense of needing to void quickly even if the bladder isn’t very full is what we describe as urinary urgency.

Other options don’t fit as well. Hematuria (blood in the urine) isn’t a direct result of dehydration alone and would point to another issue such as stones or infection. Polyuria is exactly the opposite of dehydration—producing abnormally large amounts of urine. Retention is difficulty emptying the bladder, which isn’t a typical consequence of dehydration.