Oral Rehydration Solutions: Made at Home
To prevent too much liquid being lost from the child's body, an effective oral rehydration solution can be made using ingredients found in almost every household. One of these drinks should be given to the child every time a watery stool is passed.
Ideally these drinks (preferably those that have been boiled) should contain:
The following traditional remedies make highly effective oral rehydration solutions and are suitable drinks to prevent a child from losing too much liquid during diarrhoea:
A very suitable and effective simple solution for rehydrating a child can also be made by using salt and sugar, if these ingredients are available.
If possible, add 1/2 cup orange juice or some mashed banana to improve the taste and provide some potassium.
Molasses and other forms of raw sugar can be used instead of white sugar, and these contain more potassium than white sugar.
If none of these drinks is available, other alternatives are:
If nothing else is available, give water from the cleanest possible source
(If possible brought to the boil and then cooled).
Footnote:
People often refer to home-prepared oral rehydration solutions as "home-brew." This should be discouraged because the word brew implies:
Preparing a 1 (one) liter oral rehydration solution [ORS] using Salt, Sugar and Water at Home.
Mix an oral rehydration solution using one of the following recipes; depending on ingredients and container availability:
Ingredients:
5 cupfuls (each cup about 200 ml.)
Preparation Method:
Stir the mixture till the salt and sugar dissolve.
An efficient and effective homemade remedy to be used when watery diarrhea strikes and is a good substitute for oral rehydration salts
Ingredients:
Instructions:
Mix well the rice cereal (or sugar), water, and salt together until the mixture thickens but is not too thick to drink.
Give the mixture often by spoon and offer the child as much as he or she will accept (every minute if the child will take it). Continue giving the mixture with the goal of replacing the fluid lost: one cup lost, give a cup. Even if the child is vomiting, the mixture can be offered in small amounts (2-1 tsp.) every few minutes or so.
Q. How do I measure the Salt and Sugar?
Different communities use various methods for measuring the salt and sugar.
Whatever method is used, people need to be carefully instructed in how to mix and use the solutions.
Do not use too much salt. If the solution has too much salt the child may refuse to drink it. Also, too much salt can, in extreme cases, cause convulsions. Too little salt does no harm but is less effective in preventing dehydration.
A rough guide to the amount of salt is that the solution should taste no saltier than tears.
Q. How much solution do I feed?
Feed after every loose motion.
Adults and large children should drink at least 3 quarts or liters of ORS a day until they are well.
Each Feeding:
Between a quarter and a half of a large cup
Between a half and a whole large cup
For Severe Dehydration:
Drink sips of the ORS (or give the ORS solution to the conscious dehydrated person) every 5 minutes until urination becomes normal. (It's normal to urinate four or five times a day.)
Q. How do I feed the solution?
The drink should be given from a cup (feeding bottles are difficult to clean properly). Remember to feed sips of the liquid slowly.
Q. What if the child vomits?
If the child vomits, wait for ten minutes and then begin again. Continue to try to feed the drink to the child slowly, small sips at a time.
The body will retain some of the fluids and salts needed even though there is vomiting.
Q. For how long do I feed the liquids?
Extra liquids should be given until the diarrhoea has stopped. This will usually take between three and five days.
Q. How do I store the ORS solution?
Store the liquid in a cool place. Chilling the ORS may help. If the child still needs ORS after 24 hours, make a fresh solution.
Stir the mixture till all the contents dissolve.
Last Modified : 9/14/2022
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