Reduced concentration oral rehydration solution: Difference between revisions

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Reduced concentration oral rehydration solution (or reduced osmolarity oral rehydration solution) is less concentrated than traditionally used in oral rehydration therapy. Some tests have found it to result in "reduced need for unscheduled intravenous infusions, lower stool volume, and less vomiting compared with standard WHO rehydration solution."^[1]. In contrast, ^[2]

However, concerns have been raised that this is unsuitable for universal use, as it may lead to a negative sodium balance in cholera patients, with very serious consequences.^[3] For this reason starch-based oral rehydration solutions may be preferred methods of achieving the same effects with less risk,^{[verification needed]} especially in serious cases.

Composition and usage

See also Oral rehydration solution recipes for the conventional version.

The 2004 WHO recipe for home-made Oral Rehydration Salts:

Add to one litre of safe water:

• Salt 1/2 small spoon (3.5 grams)
• Sugar 4 big spoons (40 grams)

The standard, manufactured WHO/UNICEF glucose-based ORS solution contains:^{[verification needed]}

In the human body, the plasma osmolarity is about 285 mOsm/l.

The amount of rehydration that is needed depends on the size of the individual and the degree of dehydration. Rehydration is generally adequate when the person no longer feels thirsty and has a normal urine output. A rough guide to the amount of ORS solution needed in the first 4-6 hours of treatment for a mildly dehydrated person is:

• Up to 5 kg (11 lb): 200 – 400 ml
• 5-10 kg (11-22 lb): 400 – 600 ml
• 10-15 kg (22-33 lb): 600 – 800 ml
• 15-20 kg (33–44 lb): 800 – 1000 ml
• 20-30 kg (44-66 lb: 1000 – 1500 ml
• 30-40 kg (66-88 lb): 1500 – 2000 ml
• 40 plus kg (88 lb): 2000-4000 ml

Questions and comments

• Perhaps this is suitable when the patient is able to take some other food, and is not relying solely on the ORS? --Chriswaterguy 19:20, 11 May 2008 (PDT)
• In the medical literature available through a Google search, this is referred to as reduced osmolarity oral rehydration solution. To make it more understandable to the lay person, I've changed it to reduced concentration oral rehydration solution, which doesn't have any hits online. Is there a better term to use? (Or... is it only the salt that's reduced, in which case it should be reduced salinity oral rehydration solution...)
• ...or "Diluted ORS"? Though that sounds rather imprecise. Steve.mccrosky 21:55, 20 May 2008 (PDT)

Notes

External links

• New formulation of Oral Rehydration Salts (ORS) with reduced osmolarity - Technical Bulletin from UNICEF, describing the user of a weaker solution, with the aim of reducing stool output.