World ORS Day 2020: What is the ORS? How it is used

New delhi date. Wednesday, July 29, 2020

Despite all the advances in the medical field, diarrhea is the second leading cause of death in children under the age of 5 worldwide. About 1.5 million children die of diarrhea every year. Diarrhea kills more children than the total number of children who die from diseases such as AIDS, malaria and measles. Diarrhea is more prevalent in developing countries due to lack of clean and safe drinking water and lack of sanitation as well as overall health and nutritional deficiencies due to population growth. Doctors say that about 70% of deaths due to diarrhea can be easily prevented with a solution containing oral rehydration salt which is a very simple sugar and salt solution.

ORS Day is celebrated on 29th July every year with the aim of highlighting the importance of Oral Rehydration Salt i.e. ORS. ORS is a very cheap and beneficial method that can be used to fight dangerous diseases.

How does diarrhea affect the body?

Diarrhea is a very common disease associated with the gastrointestinal tract that lasts for a few hours or even several days. The more water and salt a person needs to survive, the more salt and water they lose when they have diarrhea. Most people who die from diarrhea actually die from severe dehydration and loss of body fluids.

What is ORS?

Oral rehydration salt which is commonly called ORS solution. This is an energy boosting compound that helps the body regain electrolytes. According to the World Health Organization, ORS contains 4 basic ingredients that are drunk by dissolving in 1 liter of clean drinking water. These elements are something like this ...

- Sodium chloride which is common salt (3.5 g)

- Trisodium citrate, dehydrate (2.9 g)

- Potassium chloride (1.5 g)

- Glucose i.e. sugar (20 gms)

ORS blends are usually readily available in the market but you can also make them at home if you can't afford to go to the market.

How does ORS help with diarrhea?

During diarrhea, all the minerals and electrolytes in the patient's body are damaged. In diarrhea, minerals and water are excreted from the body and severe dehydration occurs in the patient's body. Problems with dehydration arise. To treat the problem of dehydration due to diarrhea, the patient is given more fluids at home or the patient is given a glucose-electrolyte solution called oral rehydration salt or ORS mixture.

The use of high doses of fluids at home and a combination of ORS is considered to be the most effective treatment for a child suffering from diarrhea. If a child complains of loose motion 3 or more times a day, it is advisable to give the child a mixture of ORS.

How to make ORS at home?

If you do not have a packet of ORS present in your home and you need it in case of emergency, you can easily prepare ORS using the items in the house. Learn how ...

- 1 liter of clean water (you can also use boiled water if you want)

- 30 grams of sugar (6 teaspoons sugar)

- Half a teaspoon of salt

Mix all these things in such a way that the sugar and salt dissolve completely in the water. You can eliminate dehydration by using this mixture in case of dehydration.

Pay special attention to the proportions of all the items while making this mixture. Because too much sugar can increase diarrhea. And too much salt can be harmful to a child's health.

How much ORS should be given to children?

Children with diarrhea or the elderly are advised to consume as much ORS as possible.

- If the child is less than 2 years of age, you can give ORS up to a quarter or half a cup of 250 ml cup every time after defecation.

- Give half a cup or one cup of ORS mixture to every child over 2 years of age after defecation.