Hydratation de l'enfant et comportement dipsique

Water requirements, like energy requirements normalized to body weight, are more important in the infants and children than in adults (all the more important in relative terms that the subject is immature). Urinary, evaporative (skin, breathing) and fecal losses are proportionately higher during physical exercises, during exposure to high temperatures or while suffering from diseases. Despite the central role of water in humans' survival, studies investigating children hydration are not numerous. Assessing children hydration status via urinary osmolality measurement is the easiest method to be used in a study especially when it is performed on a large cohort like schoolchildren. Observational studies realized in various countries on beverage consumption of children suggest the same conclusion: water intake is insufficient; this could potentially have an impact on their cognitive functions. On the other hand, children not only drink not enough water but they consume too many sugary beverages which may affect their weight status. However, the only drink which the child or adult needs is water. Several tracks are mentioned (informing parents, training teachers, improving accessibility to water) in order to make children behavior changing to allow better hydration which is a real public health issue.