Polydipsia facts for kids

Polydipsia is a big word for feeling super thirsty all the time. It also means drinking a lot of water or other liquids. This word comes from ancient Greek. "Poly" means "much" or "many," and "dipsa" means "thirst." So, polydipsia literally means "very thirsty."

Polydipsia is not a sickness itself. Instead, it is a symptom that can show up with different diseases. Sometimes, it can even be seen in animals, like birds, when they drink more than usual.

What Causes Polydipsia?

Polydipsia happens when your body needs more water than usual. This can be due to many reasons.

Diabetes and Thirst

One common reason for polydipsia is diabetes mellitus. This is a condition where your body has trouble controlling blood sugar. If diabetes is not managed well, you might feel very thirsty.

Another type of diabetes, called diabetes insipidus, can also make you extremely thirsty. This kind of diabetes is different from diabetes mellitus. It affects how your kidneys handle water.

Other Reasons for Feeling Thirsty

Your body works hard to keep everything balanced. If the balance of fluids outside your cells changes, you might feel thirsty. This balance is called osmolality.

Other things can also cause polydipsia. For example, if you have low levels of potassium in your body, called hypokalemia, you might get very thirsty. Also, if your blood volume decreases, your body will tell you to drink more water. These conditions all make your body need more water.

How Doctors Find Out What's Causing Polydipsia

Since polydipsia is a symptom, doctors need to find out what is causing it. They will do tests to understand why you are so thirsty.

For example, if a doctor suspects diabetes insipidus or diabetes mellitus, they will do specific tests. These tests help them figure out if one of these conditions is making you feel extra thirsty. Finding the cause helps doctors decide the best way to help you.

See also

In Spanish: Polidipsia para niños