A nurse is caring for a patient who has been experiencing high fever, vomiting, and diarrhea for the past two days. During the skin assessment, the nurse notes that the patient's skin appears loose and flabby. Which explanation best describes why fluid loss from these causes produces this skin finding?
- Excessive moisture from fever increases skin turgor, causing the skin to appear swollen and taut.
- Sodium retention from vomiting and diarrhea causes the skin to become thick and rigid.
- Fluid volume deficit reduces the fluid content within body tissues, causing the skin to lose its normal fullness and elasticity.
- Increased intracellular fluid from fever causes the skin to appear puffy and edematous.