User:Mr. Ibrahem/Oral rehydration therapy
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Oral rehydration therapy (ORT) is a type of fluid replacement used to prevent and treat dehydration, especially that due to diarrhea.[1] It involves drinking water with modest amounts of sugar and salts, specifically sodium and potassium.[1] Oral rehydration therapy can also be given by a nasogastric tube.[1] Therapy should routinely include the use of zinc supplements.[1] Use of oral rehydration therapy has been estimated to decrease the risk of death from diarrhea by up to 93%.[2]
Mr. Ibrahem/Oral rehydration therapy | |
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Other names | Oral rehydration solution (ORS), oral rehydration salts (ORS), glucose-salt solution |
Specialty | Pediatrics |
Complications | Vomiting, high blood sodium, high blood potassium[1] |
MeSH | D005440 |
eMedicine | 906999-treatment |
Side effects may include vomiting, high blood sodium, or high blood potassium.[1] If vomiting occurs, it is recommended that use be paused for 10 minutes and then gradually restarted.[1] The recommended formulation includes sodium chloride, sodium citrate, potassium chloride, and glucose.[1] Glucose may be replaced by sucrose and sodium citrate may be replaced by sodium bicarbonate, if not available.[1] It works as glucose increases the uptake of sodium and thus water by the intestines.[3] A number of other formulations are also available including versions that can be made at home.[3][2] However, the use of homemade solutions has not been well studied.[2]
Oral rehydration therapy was developed in the 1940s, but did not come into common use until the 1970s.[4] It is on the World Health Organization's List of Essential Medicines.[5] The wholesale cost in the developing world of a package to mix with a liter of water is US$0.03 to 0.20.[6] Globally as of 2015 oral rehydration therapy is used by 41% of children with diarrhea.[7] This use has played an important role in reducing the number of deaths in children under the age of five.[7]