🧴 Oral Rehydration Salts (ORS)
📄 Description:
ORS is a balanced mixture of glucose and electrolytes (sodium, potassium, chloride, citrate) formulated to treat dehydration due to diarrhea, vomiting, or other fluid loss conditions. It helps restore lost fluids and essential salts in the body.
🧾 Prescription / Indications:
Indicated for:
- Acute diarrheal dehydration (mild to moderate)
- Cholera
- Vomiting with fluid loss
- Heat exhaustion or exertional dehydration
- Maintenance of hydration
Dosage:
- Children <2 years: 50–100 mL after each loose stool
- Children 2–10 years: 100–200 mL after each loose stool
- Older children/adults: As much as desired, typically up to 2–4 L/day
Reconstitute one ORS sachet in 1 liter of clean drinking water. Administer frequently in small sips.
🔬 Nature:
- Type: Oral electrolyte-glucose solution
- Form: Powder for reconstitution in water
- Mechanism: Utilizes glucose-sodium co-transport in the intestinal lining to enhance absorption of fluids and salts
⚖️ Standard Composition (as per WHO / IP per 1 liter):
| Ingredient | Amount |
|---|---|
| Sodium chloride | 2.6 g |
| Potassium chloride | 1.5 g |
| Trisodium citrate | 2.9 g |
| Glucose (anhydrous) | 13.5 g |
| Total osmolarity | ~245 mOsm/L |
🌟 Advantages:
- Life-saving in diarrheal dehydration
- Low-cost, easy to use, available over-the-counter
- Can be given at home or health centers
- WHO-recommended formulation
- Can be used in children, adults, elderly, pregnant women
📦 Common Packaging:
- Sachets containing powder for 1-liter preparation
- Pack sizes: 4 g, 10.4 g, or 21 g sachets depending on national standard
- Individually sealed; some may be flavored (orange, lemon, etc.)
🧊 Storage:
- Store sachets in a cool, dry place
- Once reconstituted:
- Use within 24 hours
- Refrigerate if possible
- Protect from moisture and light
⚠️ Precautions:
- Do not mix with milk, soup, or sugary drinks
- Use only clean drinking water
- Do not boil ORS solution after mixing
- Not suitable for:
- Severe dehydration (requires IV fluids)
- Infants under 6 months (unless directed by a physician)
- Contains glucose—caution in diabetics
👩⚕️ Patient Advice:
- Start ORS at the onset of diarrhea
- Give frequently in small sips, even if the person is vomiting
- Discard unused solution after 24 hours
- Watch for warning signs: sunken eyes, lethargy, dry mouth, no urine – may require IV fluids
- Do not stop feeding or breastfeeding during diarrhea