Thesis (MEng)--Stellenbosch University, 2015. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The assessment of dehydration is an ever elusive golden standard, even given
the plethora of hydration markers that exist to date. Many literature sources
acknowledge the need for a portable device that can be used as an indicative
tool for hydration. This project sought to find a solution for assessing dehydration
on a micro level looking for an indication of hydration by investigating
the levels of water concentration in the skin and water compartments of the
body using bioelectrical impedance, stratum corneum impedance and infrared
spectrometry. Two studies were conducted to evaluate the efficacy of these
devices: an infield study to assess the efficacy of the devices for measuring
dehydration brought on by exercise in adults and an infant study where the
devices where used to assess its ability to measure dehydration in infants who
have succumbed to diarrhoea. The studies showed that the devices are not applicable
in measuring real time hydration in exercising subjects as sweat was a
perturbing factor in the measurements. The infant study provided promising
results with regards to the usage of the infrared device. It is believed that
these results could spur further investigation into the field of using infrared
spectrometry as a dehydration marker. Dehydration still remains to be an
ever elusive standard but the importance of finding a solution to quantitatively
assess hydration is a field which could benefit the general population
and its importance should not be underestimated. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die assessering van dehidrasie is steeds 'n ontwykende goue standaard selfs
gegewe die oorvloed van hidrasiemerkers wat bestaan tot op datum. Baie
literatuurbronne erken egter die behoefte aan 'n draagbare toestel wat as 'n
hulpmiddel kan dien vir die evaluering van die vlakke van dehidrasie. Hierdie
projek streef daarna om ondersoek in te stel tot die assessering van dehidrasie
op 'n mikrovlak deur die waterkonsentrasies te meet in die vel en die verskeie
waterkompartemente in die liggaam via die gebruik van bio-elektriese impedansie
analise, stratum corneum impedansie analise en infrarooi-spektrometrie.
Twee studies is gedoen om die doeltreffendheid van die toestelle te evalueer:
'n inveldstudie wat die hidrasievlakke van volwassenes meet wat ly aan dehidrasie
weens oefening en 'n studie wat dehidrasie meet in neonate wat ly aan
dehidrasie weens diarree. Die studies het bewyse gelewer dat die toestelle nie
effektief is met betrekking tot die meet van dehidrasie in aktiewe volwassenes
nie, weens die rede dat sweet 'n verstorende faktor is. Die neonate studie
het belowende resultate verskaf met betrekking tot die gebruik van die infrarooi
toestel. Daar word geglo dat hierdie resultate verdere ondersoek in die
veld met betrekking tot infrarooi spektrometrie as 'n hidrasie merker kan motiveer.
Finale bevindinge wys dat die kwantifisering van dehidrasie steeds 'n
ontwykende standaard is, maar die belangrikheid van 'n moontlike oplossing
sal voordelig wees vir die wêreld se volke en moet dus nie onderskat word nie.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:sun/oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/97137 |
| Date | 03 1900 |
| Creators | Visser, Cobus |
| Contributors | Scheffer, C., Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Engineering. Dept. of Mechanical and Mechatronic Engineering. |
| Publisher | Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University |
| Source Sets | South African National ETD Portal |
| Language | en_ZA |
| Detected Language | Unknown |
| Type | Thesis |
| Format | 109 pages : illustrations |
| Rights | Stellenbosch University |
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