Dr Sumitha Nayak
MD, DNB, FIAP,
Adv Cert in Vaccinology(IVI, S.Korea& CMC, Vellore), PGDMLS, PGDGC
Consultant Paediatrician
Shishu- The Children’s Clinic, Bengaluru
Every year, millions of children and adults suffer from diarrhea, vomiting, dehydration caused by fever, excessive sweating, heat-related illnesses or gastrointestinal infections. In these conditions dehydration can quickly become dangerous, especially in infants,young children, and older adults, with chronic illnesses.
The World Health Organization explains that acute diarrhoeal disease remains a major cause of death in infants and young children in many developing countries, and that the immediate danger in most cases is dehydration rather than the infection alone.WHO ORS addresses that danger in a way that is simple, effective, inexpensive, and practical for use at home as well as in health facilities.
Considered as one of the greatest medical discoveries of the lastcentury by the pioneering work of a paediatrician , Dr Dilip Mahalanabis, WHO ORS is the simplest , inexpensive, readily available, life saving product that can be prepared or purchased almost anywhere.
What is WHO ORS?
At its core, WHO ORS is a scientifically balanced mixture of water, glucose (sugar), and essential salts such as sodium and potassium. These ingredients work together to replace the fluids and electrolytes lost during diarrhea, vomiting, or excessive sweating.When mixed correctly with safe water and given by mouth WHO ORS not only replenishes lost fluids but also helps the body absorb water more efficiently through the intestine. The glucose in ORS facilitates the absorption of sodium, and sodium in turn helps the body absorb water. This unique mechanism makes ORS remarkably effective in preventing and treating dehydration. This may sound ordinary, but its impact has been extraordinary!
Why is WHO ORS so important?
Diarrheal diseases remain one of the leading causes of illness in children worldwide. Most often, the greatest danger is not the infection , but the dehydration that follows.
A child with repeated loose stools can lose significant amounts of water and salts very rapidly. Without timely replacement, dehydration progresses swiftly leading to weakness, shock, kidney failure, and even death.
What are the warning signs of dehydration?
Warning signs include thirst, dry mouth, dark yellow urine, reduced urination, tiredness, dizziness, and sunken eyes; in babies, parents may also notice fewer wet nappies, no tears while crying, or a sunken soft spot on the head. If these losses are not corrected in time, dehydration can become severe and may lead to shock and other medical emergencies
WHO ORS has dramatically reduced deaths from diarrhea across the globe. The World Health Organization (WHO) and UNICEF recommend WHO ORS as the first-line treatment for most cases of acute diarrhea.
Experts estimate that ORS has saved tens of millions of lives since its introduction and continues to be one of the most cost-effective medical interventions ever developed.
When should WHO-ORS be used?
Common situations where WHO- ORS is useful include:
- Acute diarrhea in children and adults
- Vomiting due to viral illnesses
- Food poisoning
- Fever associated with poor fluid intake
- Heat exhaustion and excessive sweating
- Dehydration during hot summer months
- Recovery after strenuous physical activity when significant fluid loss has occurred
- Mild dehydration due to various illnesses
How to prepare ORS?
WHO ORS packets are carefully formulated to contain the correct balance of salts and glucose as per standard WHO recommendations.
To prepare the ORS:
- Wash your hands.
- Empty the contents of the entire WHO ORS packet into the recommended quantity of clean drinking water (usually one litre, unless otherwise specified on the packet).
- Stir until completely dissolved.
- Do not add extra sugar, salt, milk, or juice.
- Use the prepared solution within 24 hours.
- Discard any leftover solution after 24 hours.
How much WHO ORS can be given?
Small, frequent sips are usually better tolerated than large amounts.
Children should be encouraged to drink some WHO-ORS after every loose stool.
In infants, feeding of mothers milk should continue throughout the illness. Older children should continue eating normal, easily digestible foods as tolerated.
The combination of continued feeding and ORS helps speed recovery and prevents malnutrition.
WHO ORS does not stop diarrhoea- is it alright?
A common misconception is that WHO ORS should stop diarrhea immediately.
However, this is not so.
WHO- ORS works by replacing lost fluids and salts while the body naturally clears the infection. It prevents dehydration, which is the major cause of complications and death.
The diarrhea itself may continue for a few days, but with proper hydration, the patient remains safe while recovering.
REMEMBER:
Replace the lost fluids immediately with WHO- ORS
Continue feeding
Watch for signs of dehydration
Seek medical care when necessary.
Every Home needs WHO-ORS
Just as every family keeps basic medicines at home, WHO ORS packets should be part of every household first-aid kit.
Families travelling with children should always carry WHO- ORS packets, especially during summer vacations and long journeys.
Schools, daycare centres, sports academies, and workplaces should also keep WHO- ORS readily available.
When should you see a doctor?
Although WHO ORS is highly effective for preventing dehydration, medical evaluation is essential if:
- The patient cannot drink.
- Vomiting is persistent.
- There is blood in the stool.
- High fever with diarrhea.
- Severe abdominal pain.
- Diarrhea continues beyond several days.
- Signs of severe dehydration appear.
- The patient is an infant under six months, an elderly individual, or someone with serious underlying medical conditions.
Early medical care can prevent complications.
Sometimes, the simplest solutions truly save the most lives.
ORS remains one of medicine’s greatest gifts to humanity—a small packet with the power to save millions of lives.
