Water is life. Being hydrated is what keeps humans active. We keep losing water throughout the day in various ways, for example – sweating. Thus, it is vital to keep drinking water at regular intervals. A person gets dehydrated when the loss of water (fluids) is at a faster rate than its required consumption. As a result, there’s an electrolyte imbalance.
Diseases such as diarrhea lead to severe dehydration and can be life-threatening for children as well as adults. This is where Oral Rehydration Solution (ORS) comes in handy. Read ahead to know more about dehydration, ORS and its importance.
What is Oral Rehydration Solution (ORS)?
Oral Rehydration Solution, helps the human body in maintaining electrolyte balance. Consumption of ORS helps the intestines to absorb H2O. That is why, such solutions are given to babies suffering from diarrhea. Use of ORS is not restricted to babies, elders are also prescribed it for staying hydrated.
ORS comes in a sachet/tetra pack and can be purchased over the counter from most pharmacies. It is water-soluble; thus, it is easy to make and consume. It can be prepared easily at home within a minute.
Here’s a list of types of ORS.
Homemade
Rice-based
Trisodium citrate
Low Osmolarity
Super
It is best to consult a physician before using any type of ORS.
ORS Day
July 29 is observed as ORS day in order to create awareness about the benefits of this solution. In 2019, diseases such as cholera and diarrhea are curable thanks to medical advancements. However, in the 1800s and early 1900s, these weren’t just diseases, they were epidemics that claimed innumerable human lives. ORS Day is also observed to remember it as mankind’s victory over certain mass-murdering diseases. However, the risk hasn’t been entirely averted.
As per World Health Organization (WHO), diarrhea-related diseases rank second when it comes to claiming infants’ lives. This is where ORS can be useful. The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and WHO started promoting the use of ORS in the 2000s. Indian health authorities have also been active regarding promoting the benefits associated with ORS.
Major Causes of Dehydration
Here’s a list of things that can cause dehydration in the human body.
The geographical location and the prevalent weather conditions can also play a role in causing dehydration.
ORS and Children
ORS has emerged as a life saver for children. Such oral rehydration is cost-effective and often considered as the initial treatment for dehydration. ORS can be useful in treating minor and modest level of dehydration. A dropper or a spoon can be used to feed ORS to babies.
ORS and the Elderly
Usually, ORS is associated with children but the elderly population can also benefit from it. Elderly patients who consume multiple medicines might face electrolyte imbalance. They can be as vulnerable as children when it comes to dehydration. Depending upon the condition, ORS is beneficial for children, adults, and the elderly.
Also, check:Things to Know While Buying Health Insurance for your Children
Health Policy in India
You can purchase health insurance for yourself as well as for your family. Health insurance plan for family can be less costly as compared to purchasing an individual health insurance policy for all family members. Health insurance plans for family are commonly known as Family Floater plans.
It has become a lot easier to purchase a health policy in India. It is convenient, budget-friendly, and super simple to buy health insurance online. Secure your finances by purchasing a suitable health insurance plan. It is suggested to make an informed choice by reading the policy document thoroughly before purchasing health insurance.
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FAQs
Oral rehydration solutions (ORS) are used to treat dehydration caused by diarrhea, a common illness in travellers. Unlike other fluids, the ratio of the ingredients in an ORS matches what the body needs to recover from a diarrheal illness.
What is the meaning of ORS day? ›
World ORS Day is observed each year on July 29 to emphasise the importance of ORS (Oral Rehydration Salts) as an affordable healthcare method to treat dehydration and diarrhoea. Awareness is the first step towards any solution and mitigating any problem.
What are the advantages and disadvantages of ORS? ›
Ors Powder is a Powder manufactured by Anglo-French Drugs & Industries Ltd. It is commonly used for the diagnosis or treatment of Fluid balance, normal function of body cells, instant energy. It has some side effects such as Fever, Vomiting, Alopecia, Diarrhea, Mucositis.
What is the difference between the old ORS and the new ORS? ›
The reduced osmolarity oral rehydration solution has lower concentrations of glucose and sodium chloride than the original solution, but the concentrations of potassium and citrate are unchanged. The reduced osmolarity solution has been criticized by some for not providing enough sodium for adults with cholera.
What are the advantages of the new ORS formula? ›
It reduces stool output or stool volume by about 25% when compared to the original WHO- UNICEF ORS solution, 2. It reduces vomiting by almost 30%, 3. It reduces the need for unscheduled IV therapy by more than 30%.
What is ORS in healthcare? ›
PIP: Oral rehydration solution (ORS), the best treatment of dehydration due to acute diarrhea, is the most important medical advance of this century since it is key to reducing infant and child morbidity and mortality.
What is the story behind ORS? ›
Dr Dilip Mahalnabis, a Kolkata-based paediatrician, stepped in. From his research, he knew that a solution of sugar and salt, which would increase water absorption by the body, could save lives. He turned to Oral Rehydration Therapy, an unpopular treatment for diarrhoea in those days.
What are examples of ORS? ›
Oral Rehydration Solution Recipes
- Orange juice base. ¾ tsp salt. ...
- Gatorade base. Choose any flavor, except red. ...
- Grape juice base. ½ cup juice. ...
- Apple juice base. 1 cup of juice. ...
- Randy's rehydration drink. 1½ tsp salt. ...
- World Health Organization ORS Recipe. 3/8 tsp salt (sodium chloride) ...
- Drip Drop.
The pooled estimate for the effectiveness of ORS interventions (from three studies reporting mortality, 68 total deaths in the studies) found a ~69% decrease in diarrhea mortality (95% CI 51% to 80%) with ~74% ORS coverage.
Who recommended ORS? ›
Oral Rehydration Salts (ORS)
ORS is a balanced mixture of electrolyte salts and glucose recommended by the WHO and UNICEF. It is available as a pharmaceutical product, ORS sachets, containing sodium chloride, potassium chloride, trisodium citrate and glucose.
Dr Dilip Mahalanabis was working in overflowing refugee camps during the 1971 Bangladesh Liberation war when he came up with ORS, which The Lancet called “the most important medical discovery of the 20th century.
What replaces ORS in USA? ›
If ORS is not available, you should provide water, broth, and/or other fluids. You should not provide drinks with a high sugar content, such as juice, soft drinks, or sports drinks, because they could worsen diarrhea.
Does ORS have an expiry date? ›
Yes, the product comes with an expiry date after which it must be discarded.
Why is ORS called SSS? ›
We're occasionally asked, sometimes quite assertively, why we are encouraging poor mothers and care-givers to spend what little cash they have on a Kit Yamoyo, which contains commercially produced oral rehydration salts (ORS) sachets, when a simple recipe of salt, sugar and water (Sugar-Salt Solution or SSS) can easily ...
Is it good to drink ORS every day? ›
It is not recommended that normally hydrated persons drink OS-1 on a daily basis to keep themselves hydrated. OS-1 contains more electrolytes such as sodium and potassium than ordinary drinks. Patients with hypertension and decreased renal functions should consult with their doctors before use.
Why is ORS important in diarrhea? ›
Acute diarrhea normally only lasts a few days. ORT does not stop the diarrhoea, but it replaces the lost fluids and essential salts thus preventing or treating dehydration and reducing the danger. The glucose contained in ORS solution enables the intestine to absorb the fluid and the salts more efficiently.
Why is taking ORS better than water? ›
Drinking an ORS like DripDrop can help to replenish electrolyte imbalance due to mild to moderate dehydration. An ORS is more effective than drinking water because plain water doesn't contain many electrolytes. While sports drinks claim to replenish electrolytes, they're packed with sugar and artificial additives.
Why is it important to rehydrate? ›
From our blood system carrying essential glucose, oxygen and nutrients to cells, to the kidneys getting rid of waste products we no longer want, fluid in the body is vital to allow these to occur. It also lubricates our joints and eyes, helps our digestive system function and keeps our skin healthy.
