Diarrhea

 FACT SHEET

Diarrhea usually cures itself in a few days. The real danger is the loss of liquid and nutrients from the child's body, which can cause dehydration and malnutrition.
A child with diarrhea should never be given any tablets, antibiotics, or other medicines unless these have prescribed by a trained health worker.
The best treatment for diarrhea is to drink lots of liquids and oral rehydration salts (ORS) properly mixed with water.
If ORS packets are not available, dehydration can be treated by giving the child a drink made with four level teaspoons of sugar and half a level teaspoon of salt dissolved in one liter of clean water. Be very careful to mix the correct amounts, as too much sugar can make the diarrhea 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.
Measles frequently causes severe diarrhea. Immunizing children against measles prevents this cause of diarrhea.

ORS solution

A special drink for diarrhea

What is ORS?

ORS (oral rehydration salts) is a special combination of dry salts that, when properly mixed with safe water, can help rehydrate the body when a lot of fluid has been lost due to diarrhea.

Where can ORS are obtained?

In most countries, ORS packets are available from health centers, pharmacies, markets, and shops.

To make the ORS drink:

How much ORS drink to give?

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.
Diarrhea usually stops in three or four days.
If it does not stop after one week, consult a trained health worker.

THIS IS GENERAL INFORMATION ON DISEASE. PLEASE CONTACT YOUR DOCTOR FOR MORE DETAILS AND TREATMENT.

Compiled by –Santosh  Ghodinde ,Community Pharmacist, Dhanwantari Medical, Panvel.