How Diarrhea And Dehydration Can Be Treated With ORS

Treating dehydration is easier than you think with ORS. But first, let's talk about diarrhea. Diarrhea is the condition of having three or more loose or liquid bowel movements each day. Dehydration occurs when the body does not have enough water. In children, this can lead to developmental problems and even death if left untreated for a long period of time. You may wonder how diarrhea and dehydration are related to one another. Well, when a child has diarrhea, they can become dehydrated because they lose too much fluid and minerals through the bowel movement. This results in their body lacking vital fluids and minerals required to function properly. Once children have severe dehydration, it cannot be treated at home any more. Instead, the child will need to go to a hospital for immediate help so that she can recover quickly.

What is ORS

ORS is a salt-and-sugar solution that helps replace fluids and electrolytes lost during diarrhea and vomiting. It works by providing an easy way to absorb water into the body when someone is severely dehydrated.

ORS comes in a packet or bottle (depending on the brand) that contains sugar, salt, potassium chloride and other minerals. You mix the ingredients with clean water to make a liquid you can drink. The amount of water you drink is up to you, but it should be enough to produce one full liter of fluid each hour for at least eight hours.

How diarrhea and dehydration are caused

There are many causes of diarrhea and dehydration, including viral infections, food poisoning, medication side effects, bacterial infections, inflammatory bowel disease and irritable bowel syndrome. It may also occur after surgery or during chemotherapy or radiation therapy for cancer. Anyone who has had more than three loose stools in 24 hours is considered dehydrated and should begin treatment with ORS.

Symptoms of diarrhea and dehydration

Diarrhea and dehydration have many causes — viruses, bacteria, chemicals, parasites, food poisoning, and more. Some causes are serious; some are not. Severe vomiting or diarrhea can lead to dehydration and shock. Symptoms include:

• Dry mouth

• Weakness

• No tears when crying

• Cloudy or bloody urine

• Extreme thirst

• Very low urine output

• No urination for 8 hours or more

How diarrhea and dehydration can be treated with ORS

Treatment for dehydration depends on the severity of the symptoms and how quickly the person is getting worse. If you are mildly dehydrated, drink plenty of liquids and eat food to replace the fluids and electrolytes lost from diarrhea. If your symptoms continue or become more severe, seek medical attention immediately.

To treat diarrhea with ORS:

1. Add 1 packet of ORS to one liter of water and shake gently until it dissolves (about 20 seconds).

2. Drink the mixture slowly over a period of 10 minutes or longer if needed. You should keep drinking small amounts of fluid every few minutes until your diarrhea has stopped for at least 30 minutes. Do not take any medicines until after you have had a chance to drink some ORS solution because they do not mix well with oral rehydration solutions.

Conclusion

Immediate first aid is a must. You might have to visit a hospital to get this treatment. You will also need to replace the fluid and electrolytes that you have lost by drinking Pedialyte or Gatorade golytely or lactulose solution. Due to diarrhea, you are most likely to become dehydrated. Dehydration comes with a number of symptoms that you need to watch out for.