An oral rehydration solution is a special preparation consisting of sugars, salts and drinking water. It is able to replenish the body with fluids lost due to severe diarrhea or vomiting. Research has shown that this product is as effective as intravenous fluid administration in cases of dehydration. Oral moisturizing solutions can be made by dissolving a special powder product (Dicodral®, Idraton® or Enterodral®) in water or by mixing sugar, salt and drinking water.
Steps
Method 1 of 2: Prepare the Solution
Step 1. Wash your hands
Use soap and water to thoroughly wash your hands before making the solution. Prepare a clean bottle or pitcher in advance.
Step 2. Gather everything you need
To make a homemade oral moisturizer you need:
- Table salt.
- Drinking water.
- Granulated or icing sugar.
Step 3. Mix the ingredients
In a clean container pour 2.5 g of table salt with 30 g of sugar. You can use both granulated and powdered sugar.
If you don't have a scale that appreciates grams or a graduated teaspoon, you can add a handful of sugar and as much salt as can be grasped with three fingers. However, this method is imprecise and therefore not recommended
Step 4. Pour a liter of drinking water
If the jug or bottle is not graduated, calculate about five glasses of 200ml each. Use only clean drinking water, that of a sealed bottle or that recently boiled and brought back to room temperature.
Use only and exclusively water. Milk, soup, fruit juice and soft drinks should not be used, as they make the mixture ineffective. Don't add any more sugar
Step 5. Mix well and drink the solution
Use a spoon or a whisk to dissolve the ingredients in water. After about one minute of vigorous action the solution should be ready to drink.
You can store it in the refrigerator for 24 hours. After this time, throw it away
Method 2 of 2: Understand the Utility of the Solution
Step 1. Determine if you need an oral moisturizer
If you have very severe diarrhea or vomiting, your body loses fluids to the point of possible dehydration. If this were to happen, you would notice: increased thirst, dry mouth, drowsiness, less frequent urination, dark yellow urine, headache, dry skin and dizziness. If you experience any of these symptoms, call your doctor. He or she will likely recommend that you take an oral rehydration solution if your symptoms are not severe.
If left untreated, dehydration can become very serious. Symptoms of this worsening include: very dry skin and mouth, very dark almost brown urine, loss of skin elasticity, decreased heart rate, sunken eyes, convulsions, generalized weakness and even coma. If you or the person you are caring for have signs of severe dehydration, call an ambulance
Step 2. Learn how oral rehydration solutions can prevent dehydration
These products reintegrate the excreted mineral salts and improve the body's absorption of fluids. At the first sign of dehydration, you should drink the solution. In this way you immediately rehydrate the body; It is much easier to prevent the situation from escalating by taking these drinks promptly, rather than having to treat severe dehydration.
Severe dehydration requires hospitalization and administration of intravenous fluids. However, if addressed promptly with homemade rehydration solutions, this condition remains manageable even without hospitalization
Step 3. Learn how to take moisturizing solutions
Sip the drink throughout the day. You can drink it with meals. If you vomit, take a break, wait ten minutes and then start drinking the solution again. If you are breastfeeding and caring for a baby, you can continue to breastfeed them even in conjunction with the moisturizing solution. Continue giving the drink until the diarrhea stops. Here are some dosage guidelines:
- Babies and children up to 2 years of age: half a liter of solution every 24 hours.
- Children from 2 to 9 years: 1 liter every 24 hours.
- Children (over 10 years of age) and adults: 3 liters every 24 hours.
Step 4. Know when to see your doctor if you have diarrhea
Symptoms should begin to disappear within hours of taking the oral moisturizer. The frequency of urination should increase and the urine has a less intense yellow color or even be almost transparent. If the situation does not improve or you start showing any of the following signs, call your doctor right away:
- The stools are black, tarry or bloody known in diarrhea.
- Persistent vomiting.
- High fever.
- Severe dehydration (dizziness, lethargy, sunken eyes, blocking of urination for 12 hours).
Advice
- Diarrhea usually stops in three to four days. During this time there is a real danger of loss of fluids and nutrients in the baby up to malnutrition and dehydration.
- Encourage the child to drink as much as he can.
- You can buy the oral rehydration solution sachets in all pharmacies and parapharmacies. Each sachet contains 22 g of powdered preparation, follow the instructions on the leaflet to dissolve it in water.
- If you have diarrhea, consider taking zinc supplements. You should take 10-20 mg of this mineral every day for 10-14 days after the first episode of dysentery. In this way you replenish the lost zinc in the body and prevent more serious discharges. Shellfish and crustaceans, such as oysters and crabs, are rich in this mineral, which can also be found in beef, enriched grains and baked beans. All of these foods can be useful, but supplements are needed to replenish the body with all the zinc lost in liquid stool.
Warnings
- Always check that the water you are using is safe and pristine.
- If the diarrhea does not subside after a week, consult your doctor or nurse.
- You should never give a child suffering from diarrhea pills, antibiotics or other medications without a prescription from a pediatrician or your doctor.
