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Oral Rehydration Salt (Ors)

Oral rehydration salt (ORS) packets contain sodium chloride, glucose, potassium chloride, and trisodium citrate. Trisodium citrate improves shelf life and reduces stool output compared to sodium bicarbonate. The ORS packet is dissolved in 1 liter of water. Glucose and sodium replace losses, while citrate corrects acidosis. The new ORS formulation has a lower osmolarity, reducing stool output, vomiting, and need for IV therapy compared to the old formulation. ORS is used to treat mild to moderate dehydration and instructions specify its daily preparation and use within 24 hours. Alternatives if ORS is unavailable include coconut water, rice water, and dal water

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Bijaya Bhatta
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3K views2 pages

Oral Rehydration Salt (Ors)

Oral rehydration salt (ORS) packets contain sodium chloride, glucose, potassium chloride, and trisodium citrate. Trisodium citrate improves shelf life and reduces stool output compared to sodium bicarbonate. The ORS packet is dissolved in 1 liter of water. Glucose and sodium replace losses, while citrate corrects acidosis. The new ORS formulation has a lower osmolarity, reducing stool output, vomiting, and need for IV therapy compared to the old formulation. ORS is used to treat mild to moderate dehydration and instructions specify its daily preparation and use within 24 hours. Alternatives if ORS is unavailable include coconut water, rice water, and dal water

Uploaded by

Bijaya Bhatta
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
  • ORAL REHYDRATION SALT (ORS): Introduces the composition, benefits, preparation, and guidelines for ORS, highlighting its role in treating dehydration.
  • Additional Guidelines: Provides additional guidance on drink suitability for treating dehydration and the role of zinc in treatment.

ORAL REHYDRATION SALT (ORS)

What are the constituents?


The composition of the new, reduced osmolality ORS, as recommended by WHO, is as follows:
• Sodium chloride—2.6 g
• Glucose (anhydrous)—13.5 g
• Potassium chloride—1.5 g
• Trisodium citrate dehydrate—2.9 g
(Total weight of a packet = 20.5 g)
The new ORS was launched by WHO in January 2004.

What benefit does trisodium citrate offer over the use of sodium bicarbonate in ORS?
Trisodium citrate has the following advantages over sodium bicarbonate:
• It improves the shelf life of ORS.
• It helps in reducing the stool output probably through a direct action on the intestinal mucosa, enhancing
the absorption of sodium and water.

How is the ORS reconstituted?


The contents of the packet are dissolved in 1 L of drinking water.

What is the role of each of the constituents?


• Glucose facilitates absorption of sodium and hence water.
• Sodium and potassium replace the loss of these essential elements in diarrhea and vomiting.
• Citrate corrects the acidosis that occurs due to diarrhea and dehydration.

How is the new ORS different from the older formulation?


The new ORS contains lesser amount of sodium and glucose thereby resulting in a lower osmolarity
solution after reconstitution.
The reduced osmolarity of the solution has been shown to have the following benefits in addition to
correction of dehydration:
• It reduces the stool output by 25% in comparison to the original formula.
• It reduces vomiting by 30%.
• It has been demonstrated to reduce the need for IV therapy by more than 30%.

What is the indication?


Mild and moderate dehydration

What are the instructions given regarding reconstitution?


• Dissolve the entire content of the packet in 1 L of clean drinking water.
• The prepared solution should be used within 24 hours. Discard the solution left after 24 hours.
• The solution should be made fresh daily.
• It should not be boiled or sterilized otherwise.

What are the alternatives if ORS is not available?


The alternatives to ORS solution are home available fluids. Some examples are as follows:
• Green coconut water
• Rice water
• Dal water
• Buttermilk

Compiled by: Ramesh Kunwar, Public Health Officer


• Vegetable soup
• Unsweetened fresh fruit juice

Write some examples of drinks NOT suitable for treating dehydration.


• Soft drinks
• Sweetened fruit drinks
• Sweetened tea
The sugar in these drinks may lead to more dehydration due to high osmolarity.

What are the 4 rules of home treatment in diarrhoea?


The four rules of home treatment are:
1. Give extra fluid – as much as the child will take
2. Give zinc
3. Continue feeding
4. When to return (for a follow-up visit, or immediately if danger signs develop) WHO dia module

Mention some food items which contain zinc?


Zinc is present in good amount in meat, egg, grains, nuts and oilseeds. As the plant foods do not contain
good amount of zinc, therefore vegetarians are more prone to zinc deficiency.

Compiled by: Ramesh Kunwar, Public Health Officer

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