Celebrating ORS Day on July 29 draws significance, given the fact that the month of July heralds the beginning of the monsoon season and along with it comes the deadly
diarrhoea. Promoting awareness among the masses and most importantly among vulnerable groups more prone to the disease saves millions of lives.
July 29,2001, declared as ORS Day by the Indian Academy of Paediatrics, is part of a major effort aimed at reducing childhood diarrhoea deaths.
In India, ORS saves the lives of over 500,000 children every year . Despite the great impact that ORS has had in the past decade, diarrhoea still remains the main cause of childhood deaths, accounting for over six lakh deaths every year.
ORS, recommended by the WHO,. replaces fluid and electrolyte loss that can lead to dehydration, a most common cause of death.
ORS is a sodium and glucose solution that is widely used treat children with accute diarrhoea, a serious killer of children under five worldwide.
The use of ORS is responsible for saving the lives of millions of children worldwide. This inexpensive and readily available intervention reduces suffering from dehydration caused by diarrhoea. Since WHO adopted ORS in 1978 as its primary tool to fight diarrhoea, the mortality rate for children suffering from the disease has fallen from 5 million to 1.3 million deaths annually.
Proper use of ORS: If you are taking this medicine without a prescription, carefully read and follow any precautions on the label.
Breast-feeding: This medicine has not been reported to cause problems in nursing babies. Breast-feeding should continue, if possible, during treatment with carbohydrate and electrolytes solution.
For patients using the commercial powder of this medicine:- Add seven ounces of boiled, cooled water to the entire contents of one- powder packet, shake well untill all the powder is dissolved.
Do not add more water to the solution after it is
mixed. Do not boil the solution. Make and use a fresh solution each
day. Babies and small children should be given the solution slowly, in small amounts, with a spoon, as often as possible, during the first 24 hours of diarrhoea.
Take as directed. Do not take it for a longer time than your doctor has
recommended. This may increase chances of side-effects.
The dose is based on body weight and must be determined by your doctor.
To store this medicine: Store away from heat and direct light. Store the solution in the refrigerator. Do not store the powder packets near the kitchen sink or in other damp places. Make a fresh solution each day . Discard unused solution .Be sure that discarded medicine is out of reach of children.
Eat soft foods, if possible, such as bananas, rice cereals, cooked beans and potatoes to keep up nutrition until the diarrhoea stops and regular food and milk can be taken again.
During treatment, if you notice any side-effects, consult your doctor immediately.
— Dr Anil Dheer
