oral rehydration therapy
Patient Counselling
Patients should open ORS package and mix it with the amount of clean/filtered water listed on the instructions. Do not use juice, pop or anything other than water to mix the ORS powder. If water is from the tap, make sure to sanitize it first. There are several different ways to sanitize water. These include: boiling water for at three minutes, adding 5 drops of 5% sodium hypochlorite in a quart of water, or using 5 drops of tincture of iodine in a quart of water. (1) Drink the reconstituted ORS as needed to maintain light coloured urine or until no more sensation of thirst. Discontinue ORS after resolution of diarrhea. Refrigerate the mixed version of ORS and discard 48 hours after mixing.
The following is a guideline from Patient Self-care textbook (2) of how much ORS to use in the pediatric population:
The following is a guideline from Patient Self-care textbook (2) of how much ORS to use in the pediatric population:
References:
1. Wanke. CA, Calderwood SB, Bloom A. Travelers’ Diarrhea. Up to date. Accessed on March 10, 2014. http://www.uptodate.com/contents/travelers-diarrhea?source=machineLearning&search=travelers+diarrhea&selectedTitle=1~50§ionRank=1&anchor=H11#H11
2. Canadian Pharmacists Association. Gastrointestinal Conditions: Diarrhea. Patient Self-Care 2nd edition. Ottawa: CPhA. P. 281-297.
1. Wanke. CA, Calderwood SB, Bloom A. Travelers’ Diarrhea. Up to date. Accessed on March 10, 2014. http://www.uptodate.com/contents/travelers-diarrhea?source=machineLearning&search=travelers+diarrhea&selectedTitle=1~50§ionRank=1&anchor=H11#H11
2. Canadian Pharmacists Association. Gastrointestinal Conditions: Diarrhea. Patient Self-Care 2nd edition. Ottawa: CPhA. P. 281-297.