Which type of dehydration indicates a greater loss of electrolytes than fluid?

Hypotonic dehydration occurs when there is a greater loss of electrolytes relative to fluids. In this type of dehydration, the loss of solutes—such as sodium—happens at a higher rate than the loss of water, leading to an imbalance in the body's electrolyte levels. As a result, the osmotic balance is disrupted, causing cells to swell due to an influx of water to equilibrate the solute concentration.

This contrasts with isotonic dehydration, where both fluid and electrolytes are lost in roughly equal proportions, and hypertonic dehydration, which involves a greater loss of fluid compared to electrolytes, leading to cellular shrinkage. Moderate dehydration is a less specific term and does not directly address the electrolyte and fluid loss ratio, making hypotonic dehydration the correct choice in indicating a more significant loss of electrolytes than fluids.