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Polydipsia refers specifically to excessive thirst, making it the key symptom associated with this condition. This can occur in various medical contexts, particularly in diabetes mellitus, where elevated blood sugar levels signal the kidneys to remove excess glucose through urine. This process can lead to dehydration, prompting the body to signal the need for more water intake, hence the experience of excessive thirst.

While increased appetite, frequent urination, and fatigue can also be symptoms of conditions like diabetes, they do not define polydipsia itself. Rather, polydipsia is explicitly characterized by the individual's heightened desire to drink fluids, distinguishing it from other symptoms that may be present in similar medical scenarios.

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