How to Make an Oral Rehydration Salts Drink (ORS)

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Oral rehydration salts (ORS) makes a special drink that consists of a combination of dry salts. When properly mixed with safe water, the ORS drink can help rehydrate the body when a lot of fluid has been lost due to diarrhea. A child with diarrhoea should never be given any tablets, antibiotics or other medicines unless these have been prescribed by a medical professional or a trained health worker. The best treatment for diarrhoea is to drink lots of liquids and oral rehydration salts (ORS) properly mixed with water.

Steps

1. Purchase the required quantity of ORS. In most countries, ORS packets are available from health centres, pharmacies, markets and shops.
   
2. Put the contents of the ORS packet in a clean container. Check the packet for directions and add the correct amount of clean water. Too little water could make the diarrhoea worse.
   
3. Add water only. Do not add ORS to milk, soup, fruit juice or soft drinks. Do not add sugar.
   
4. Stir well, and feed it to the child from a clean cup. Do not use a bottle.
   
5. Try an alternative method if you are unable to get ORS. This requires salt, sugar and clean water:
   
   • Place 4 level teaspoons of sugar and a half a level teaspoon of salt into one litre of clean water.
     
   • Allow the salt and sugar to dissolve.
     
   • Be very careful to mix the correct amounts, as too much sugar can make the diarrhoea worse, and too much salt can be extremely harmful to the child. If the mixture is made a little too diluted no harm can be done and there is very little loss of effectiveness.
     
   
   

Tips

• Encourage the child to drink as much as possible.
  
• A child under the age of two needs at least a quarter to a half of a large cup of the ORS drink after each watery stool.
  
• A child aged two or older needs at least a half to a whole large cup of the ORS drink after each watery stool.
  
• Diarrhoea usually stops in three or four days. The real danger is the loss of liquid and nutrients from the child's body, which can cause dehydration and malnutrition.
  

Warnings

• If the diarrhoea does not stop after one week, consult a medical professional or a trained health worker.
  
• Always check that the water used is free of contaminants.
  

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Sources and Citations

• The principal source of this article is UNICEF et al: Facts for Life - "Diarrhoea: Supporting Information"
  

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