Oral Rehydration Therapy (ORT)

What is ORT?

Oral Rehydration Therapy (ORT) is an effective and very inexpensive way of making an Oral Rehydration Solution to manage diarrhoea.

It is a home remedy that works for both children and grown-ups. Even though diarrhoea clears within 3 – 4 days after starting, it can make one lose a lot of water by stooling frequently. Hence, it causes general weakness of the body.

It can cause dehydration and loss of nutrients from the body.

ORT is a solution of salt and, at times sugar, with clean water to replace fluid and nutrient loss from diarrhoea.

ORS can and should be used when a child has stooled 3 or more times in a day and its watery. If a caretaker notices or a child complains of weakness after stooling then it could likely be diarrhoea.

How to Prepare Oral Rehydration Therapy

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.

Preparing 1 (one) Litre solution using Salt, Sugar and Water at Home

Mix an oral rehydration solution using the following recipe.

• Ingredients:
  • Six (6) level teaspoons of Sugar
  • Half (1/2) level teaspoon of Salt
  • One Litre of clean drinking or boiled water and then cooled – 5 cupfuls (each cup about 200 ml.)

  Preparation Method:

  • Stir the mixture until the salt and sugar dissolve in the container of clean water.

Remember that excess salt and or sugar in the solution is not safe to be administered. Do not add ORS to milk, soup, fruit juice or soft drinks. Do not add sugar.

The best treatment for diarrhoea is to drink lots of liquids and oral rehydration solution (ORS), properly mixed with clean water. Alternatively

• Breastmilk
• Green coconut water
• and fresh juice

can also do magic to rehydrate when salt and sugar are not present to prepare an ORT.

Before preparing an Oral Rehydration Therapy, remember to wash your hands.

<<<DRINK PLENTY OF WATER AS MUCH AS YOU CAN>>>

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