A nurse is providing fluid replacement for a preschool aged child who is dehydrated. Which of the following findings should indicate that the treatment has been effective?

Evaluation of dehydration treatment in preschool-aged children focuses on identifying signs of restored fluid balance and improved tissue perfusion. Dehydration commonly presents with decreased urine output, tachycardia, dry mucous membranes, delayed capillary refill, and thirst. Effective fluid replacement should reverse these findings and indicate improved renal perfusion and circulatory status. Urine output is one of the most reliable indicators that hydration status is improving. Rationale: A. Tachycardia is commonly a sign of ongoing dehydration rather than improvement. When fluid volume is low, the heart compensates by increasing the heart rate to maintain cardiac output and tissue perfusion. Persistent tachycardia suggests that fluid replacement may still be insufficient and further assessment is needed. B. Increased urine output indicates improved renal perfusion and restoration of circulating fluid volume, making it a strong sign that treatment has been effective. As hydration improves, the kidneys receive adequate blood flow and resume normal urine production. This is one of the most reliable indicators of successful fluid replacement in children. C. A child reporting thirst suggests that fluid deficit may still be present rather than corrected. Thirst is a physiologic response to dehydration and signals the body’s need for additional fluids. Although it helps identify dehydration, it does not indicate that rehydration has been successfully achieved. D. Capillary refill of 3 seconds is still considered delayed and may indicate incomplete correction of dehydration. Normal capillary refill in children is generally less than 2 seconds, reflecting adequate peripheral perfusion. Persistent delay suggests that circulatory volume may not yet be fully restored.