Leon Barretto

World ORS Day is celebrated every year on 29th July to highlight the importance of Oral Rehydration Salts (ORS) as a cost-effective method of treatment. World ORS Day highlights the importance of the Oral Rehydrating Salts and the usage to prevent dehydration. An oral rehydration solution (ORS) is a mixture of electrolytes, sugar, and water taken by mouth to absorb water and electrolytes into the body and properly restore the electrolyte and fluid balance lost by excessive sweating, vomiting or diarrhea.

Diarrhea - diseases are one of the leading causes of mortality in infants and young children in many developing countries. Diarrhea is still the second leading cause of death among children under five globally. Diarrhea is more prevalent in developing countries due to the lack of safe drinking water and sanitation as well as poor overall health and nutritional status of those populations. Doctors state that most of diarrhea deaths could be prevented with oral rehydration salt solution.

How To Use ORS?

You can either buy a ready made ORS solution, powdered packet or just prepare it at home.

All you need to do is empty the ORS sachet in a container filled with filtered water. Usually ORS sachets indicate the amount of water they need to be prepared with. It is ideally prepared with one litre of water and can be consumed in little quantities every hour. Make sure you prepare your ORS solution in clean and water only. DO NOT MIX THE ORS WITH MILK, SOFT DRINKS OR ANYTHING OTHER THAN DRINKING WATER.

How do I prepare an Oral Rehydration Salts ORS solution at home?

ORS drink contains the main elements that are lost from the body during diarrhea.  it replaces the lost fluids and essential salts thus preventing or treating dehydration and reducing the danger. The glucose contained in ORS solution enables the intestine to absorb the fluid and the salts more efficiently. The ready made or sachet ORS are available in different flavors.