|
Oral Rehydration Therapy (ORT) is best administered with the use of a pre-packed formula called Oral Rehydration Salts (ORS) available in a packet.
ORS is a sodium and glucose solution used to treat children with acute diarrhoea. In most parts of the world, these packets of ORS and special drinks for children with diarrhoea are widely available in pharmacies, shops, and health centres.
This packet of ORS is to be mixed with the recommended amount of clean water. Although these 'salts' are specially made for the treatment of dehydration, they can also be used to prevent dehydration.
The packet is used by doctors and health workers to treat dehydrated children. But it can also be used in the home to prevent dehydration.
The New Reduced Osmolarity formula for the ORS packet recommended by WHO and UNICEF contains:
|
Reduced osmolarity ORS
|
grams
/litre
|
 |
Reduced osmolarity ORS
|
mmol/
litre
|
|
Sodium chloride
|
2.6
|
Sodium
|
75
|
|
Glucose, anhydrous
|
13.5
|
Chloride
|
65
|
|
Potassium chloride
|
1.5
|
Glucose, anhydrous
|
75
|
|
Trisodium citrate, dihydrate
|
2.9
|
Potassium
|
20
|
|
|
Citrate
|
10
|
| Total Weight |
20.5 |
Total Osmolarity
|
245
|
|
