ORS (Oral Rehydration Salts) or ORS (Oral Rehydration Salts) is a special drink made from sugar, salt and clean water. This solution can help replace body fluids lost due to diarrhea or severe vomiting. Research shows that ORS is as effective as IV fluids for treating dehydration. ORS solution can be made using available packages such as Pedialyte®, Infalyte®, and Naturalyte®. You can also make an ORS solution at home with clean water, salt, and sugar.
Step
Method 1 of 2: Making Your Own ORS Solution
Step 1. Wash your hands
Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water before you prepare this solution. Make sure you use a clean water bottle or container.
Step 2. Prepare the materials
To make your own ORS solution you will need:
- Table salt (e.g. food salt, iodized salt, or sea salt)
- Clean water
- Granulated sugar or powdered sugar
Step 3. Mix the ingredients
Mix half a teaspoon of table salt and 2 tablespoons of sugar in a bowl. You can use granulated or powdered sugar.
If you don't have a measuring spoon, you can measure out about a handful of sugar and a pinch of salt. But this measure is not accurate and is not recommended
Step 4. Add one liter of clean water
If you can't measure in liters, do so by adding 5 cups of water (one cup is about 200 ml). Make sure to only use clean water. The water used can be bottled water or boiled water.
Make sure you only use water. Do not use milk, soup, juice, or soda as these will make the ORS solution ineffective. Don't add any more sugar
Step 5. Stir well and drink
Use a spoon or stirrer to mix and stir the ORS mixture with the water. After stirring, the entire mixture dissolves in water and is ready to drink.
ORS solution can be stored in the refrigerator for 24 hours. Don't keep it longer than that
Method 2 of 2: Understanding ORS Solution
Step 1. Ask your doctor if you need to drink ORS solution
If you have severe diarrhea or vomiting, your body will lose fluids and may become dehydrated. If you are dehydrated, you will experience prolonged thirst, dry mouth, drowsiness, lack of urination, dark yellow urine, headache, dry skin, and dizziness. If you experience any of these symptoms, call your doctor. You may be advised to drink ORS solution if your symptoms are severe.
If left untreated, dehydration will get worse. Symptoms of severe dehydration include: very dry skin and mouth, dark yellow or brown urine, inelastic skin, weak heart rate, sunken eyes, seizures, weakness, and even coma. If you or someone you care for has symptoms of severe dehydration, seek emergency help immediately
Step 2. Understand how ORS solution can prevent severe dehydration
ORS solution is intended to replace lost salt content and improve water absorption by the body. As soon as there are the first symptoms of dehydration, you should immediately drink ORS solution. This action aims to help the body rehydrate again. It's easier to treat dehydration as soon as possible than to treat it once it's severe.
Severe dehydration requires hospitalization with an IV. But if treated quickly, ORS solution can be made at home to treat mild dehydration
Step 3. Find out the rules for drinking ORS solution
Drink ORS solution throughout the day. You can drink it while eating. If you vomit, stop temporarily. Wait 10 minutes, then drink again. If you are breastfeeding and caring for a baby, you should continue to breastfeed while giving ORS solution. You can continue to take ORS until the diarrhea stops. Here are the rules for drinking ORS solution for:
- Infants or toddlers: 0.5 liters of ORS solution every 24 hours
- Young children (2-9 years): 1 liter of ORS solution every 24 hours
- Children (10 years and older) and adults: 3 liters of ORS solution every 24 hours
Step 4. Know when to see a doctor if you have diarrhea
Symptoms will begin to go away a few hours after you drink ORS solution. You will start to urinate more and your urine will start to be light yellow or almost clear. If the condition does not improve, or if the following symptoms begin to appear, seek medical attention immediately:
- Your stools are bloody or black
- Vomiting constantly
- High fever
- Severe dehydration (feeling dizzy, weak, sunken eyes, not urinating in 12 hours)
Tips
- Diarrhea will usually stop in three or four days. What is dangerous is the loss of fluids and nutrients in the body, which can lead to dehydration and malnutrition.
- Encourage the child to drink as much as possible.
- You can buy ORS mixtures at pharmacies. Each package contains 22 grams of the mixture which is for one drink. Follow the package directions for how to make the solution.
- Bananas, rice, applesauce, and crusty bread can help stop diarrhea and in some cases prevent further dehydration because these foods are easy on digestion.
- If you have diarrhea, consider taking a zinc supplement of 10 mg to 20 mg daily for 10-14 days after having diarrhea. This will replace the zinc content in the body and prevent the severity of the attack again. Zinc is found in seafood, such as oysters and crab, beef, cereals and baked beans. These types of foods can help, but vitamin supplements are still needed to replace the zinc content that is lost during severe diarrhea.
Warning
- Always make sure that the water used is clean, free from contamination.
- If diarrhea doesn't stop after a week, see a doctor.
- Children who have diarrhea should not be given antibiotics or any drugs except those prescribed by a doctor.
