Which symptom is NOT typically associated with dehydration in infants?

Excessive drooling is not typically associated with dehydration in infants. When an infant is dehydrated, physiological responses occur aimed at conserving water in the body, which includes reduced saliva production. Consequently, dehydration usually leads to dryness in the mouth and decreased moisture in the oral cavity, rather than an increase in drooling.

In contrast, symptoms like dry mouth, tenting of the skin, and sunken fontanelles are classic indicators of dehydration. Dry mouth signifies reduced saliva due to fluid loss, while tenting of the skin, which means that skin loses its elasticity and remains elevated when pinched, indicates reduced skin turgor due to fluid deficiency. Sunken fontanelles, the soft spots on an infant's skull, can appear depressed or sunken when an infant is dehydrated, reflecting the overall depletion of body fluids. These symptoms provide critical insights into the hydration status of an infant, distinguishing them from the phenomenon of excessive drooling.