Oral rehydration salts

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Oral rehydration salts or oral rehydration solution or ORS or oral rehydration therapy or ORT is a combination of electrolytes, usually combined with glucose sugar and a base that, when mixed with drinking water, are typically used to treat or avoid dehydration and metabolic acidosis, especially when caused by diarrhea from infectious illness.[1] It is a more practical alternative to IV saline.[1]

Theory[edit | edit source]

Evidence[edit | edit source]

Widespread evidence since the 1970s has led to ORS being the standard treatment for acute diarrhea, with a large reduction in deaths of under 5s especially in the developing world.[1]

A 2019 study[2] showed evidence of ORS as an effective treatment of orthostatic intolerance in children.

Clinicians[edit | edit source]

Risks and safety[edit | edit source]

Costs and availability[edit | edit source]

Very widely available and inexpensive. Homemade solutions can be made easily.

See also[edit | edit source]

Learn more[edit | edit source]

References[edit | edit source]

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 Binder, Henry J.; Brown, Ian; Ramakrishna, B.S.; Young, Graeme P. (February 22, 2014). "Oral Rehydration Therapy in the Second Decade of the Twenty-first Century". Current Gastroenterology Reports. 16 (3): 376. doi:10.1007/s11894-014-0376-2. ISSN 1534-312X. PMC 3950600. PMID 24562469.
  2. Medow, Marvin S.; Guber, Kenneth; Chokshi, Shilpan; Terilli, Courtney; Visintainer, Paul; Stewart, Julian M. (November 2019). "The Benefits of Oral Rehydration on Orthostatic Intolerance in Children with Postural Tachycardia Syndrome". The Journal of Pediatrics. 214: 96–102. doi:10.1016/j.jpeds.2019.07.041. ISSN 1097-6833. PMC 6815702. PMID 31405524.