Oral Rehydration Therapy(ORT)

Oral Rehydration Therapy(ORT)

  • Posted: 8/3/2017
  • By: Alvizia Healthcare

Oral rehydration therapy is a type of fluid replacement done to prevent and cure dehydration. It involves giving fluid orally or by nasogastric tube.
This is considered one of the best methods for treatment of acute diarrhea. Use of oral rehydration therapy decreases the risk of death from diarrhea by about 93%. ORT is considered to be a foundation or cornerstone of treatment for cholera.

Dehydration is loss of total body water. Dehydration usually occurs due to high environmental temperature, exercise or any disease. Excessive sweating, vomiting and diarrhea are the most common causes of dehydration. The symptoms of dehydration include thirst, headaches, general discomfort, loss of appetite, decreased urine volume, confusion, unexplained tiredness, purple fingernails and even seizures.
Mild dehydration is characterized by thirst and general discomfort resolved by oral rehydration. It is usually caused by increase in environmental temperature.Oral rehydrationincludes increase in the intake of water and preventing fluid loss.
In severe cases of dehydration, usually caused by diarrhea and vomiting, correction of a dehydrated state is accomplished by the replenishment of necessary water and electrolytes. During vomiting and diarrhea, along with water a few necessary salts are also lost from the body. To replenish the lost salt and water, ORS (Oral Rehydration Salts) solution is administered.

Preparation

ORT basically involves administering ORS Solution. The guidelines for preparation of a standard ORS is highlighted by UNICEF, WHO. An ORS must have sufficient sodium to replace losses on a volume to volume basis, a glucose concentration that matches that of sodium to ensure its delivery to the ileum (a small portion of small intestine), sufficient amounts of potassium and base (e.g., sodium bicarbonate or trisodium citrate dihydrate) to correct acidosis and to enhance sodium absorption, and sufficient amounts of liquid.

The necessary quantity of each salt, according to WHO, is given below.

ORS Grams/litre
Sodium chloride 2.6
Glucose, anhydrous 13.5
Potassium chloride 1.5
Trisodium citrate, dihydrate 2.9

ORS sachets are available in the market, in pharmacy stores. It is inexpensive and helps to maintain the electrolyte and salt concentration balance in our body. It contains all the necessary salts which have to be dissolved in required amount of water. Pre prepared fluids are also available.
One such available ORS sachet is manufactured by Alvizia Healthcare, a PCD Pharma company. It is called ATMOHYD ORS. It is prepared based on the guidelines of WHO/UNICEF. It contains Sodium Chloride 2.60 g, Potassium Chloride 1.50 g, Sodium Citrate 2.90 g, Dextrose (a form of glucose) 13.50 g.
Basic oral rehydration therapy solution can also be prepared when packets of oral rehydration salts are not available. It can be made using 6 level teaspoons (25.2 grams) of sugar and 0.5 teaspoon (2.1 grams) of salt in 1 litre of water.

Administration

WHO/UNICEF guidelines suggest ORT should begin at the first sign of diarrhea in order to prevent dehydration.Babies may be given ORS with a dropper or a syringe. Infants under two may be given a teaspoon of ORS fluid every one to two minutes. Older children and adults should take frequent sips from a cup. If the person vomits, the carer should wait 5–10 minutes and then resume giving ORS.