Diarrhea kills over half a million children each year, with more than 150,000 of them in India. Fortunately, use of ORS could avert nearly all of these deaths
In 1978, The Lancet journal lauded oral rehydration salts (ORS) as “potentially the most important medical advance of this century”. An Indian doctor by the name Dilip Mahalanabis, who passed away last year, is credited with discovering ORS while working in refugee camps post 1971 Bangladeshi liberation war. Majority of refugees were suffering from chronic diarrhea resulting in hundreds of deaths due to loss of fluid and essential minerals while the body itself had lost the capability of retaining fluid, resulting in severe dehydration and ultimately death. Dr Mahalanabis’ simple discovery of the very basic ORS which comprised of mixture of sugar and salt in a certain portion with water proved to be lifesaving; though doctors at first refused to take the solution seriously for any medical or treatment value.
More than 45 years later, ORS is still considered the most effective first line of defence and treatment against diarrheal diseases, recommended by WHO, UNICEF, as well as health authorities across the world. ORS is cheap and can easily be made at home, if medical ORS is unavailable. Despite this, due to low awareness about its effectiveness and ways to prepare it correctly continues to make its usage sub-optimal. If awareness and availability was high, thousands of infant deaths could be saved, points out Dr Salil Jain, Senior Director & HOD Nephrology and Renal Transplant, Fortis Hospital, Gurugram.
As per WHO, in underdeveloped countries, only about half of children with diarrhea receive ORS. To spread awareness among people regarding ORS and safeguarding the lives of children around the world, every year, July 29 is observed as World ORS day. Since 2014, India has run an annual Intensified Diarrhea Control Fortnight to increase ORS treatment. A key element of the campaign has been the free distribution of ORS to over 100 million homes with young children. This year, on June 24th, Union Health Minister, Shri JP Nadda launched ‘National STOP Diarrhoea Campaign 2024’, which aims to attain zero child deaths due to childhood diarrhoea. A critical component of strategy involves spreading awareness about ORS and distribution of ORS packets, along with zinc tablets for children up to 5 years. First phase of this campaing focuses on raising awareness while during the second lasting from 1st July to 31st August, will involve distribution of ORS and Zinc co-packages by ASHA workers to households with children under five, setting up ORS-Zinc corners at health facilities and Anganwadi centers, and intensifying advocacy and awareness efforts for effective diarrhoea management. Additionally, the campaign will strengthen service provision for diarrhoea case management to ensure comprehensive care and prevention.
So what exactly is ORS?
Oral rehydration salts or ORS is a solution of glucose-based salt solution used in oral rehydration therapy. ORS has a well-balanced combination of sugar and electrolytes that work together to promote the gut’s absorption of both water and electrolytes. In technical terms, WHO recommended ORS solution contains 75 mEq/l of sodium and 75 mmol/l of glucose, and have a total osmolarity of 245 mOsm/l. In simple term, ORS is a beverage made of water, sugar, and electrolytes, specifically potassium and sodium. Thus ORS is a carefully formulated blend of vital minerals that make it quite effective in reversing dehydration and replenishing lost salts from excessive fluid loss. This life-saving concoction is especially designed to fight the body’s loss of fluids, which makes it a vital tool for treating ailments like vomiting and diarrhoea.
Accessible and affordable:
ORS can be easily made at home with the help of home sugar and common salt. Though one should know the right proportion and use safe drinking water. Medical ORS is also cheap and easily available at medical stores. As it is widely accessible and reasonably priced, this is considered as a good choice by individuals from all socioeconomic situations. The accessibility and easy availability guarantees that people can obtain this life-saving treatment even in environments with low resources.
Undoubtedly, ORS is a life-guarding solution to protect infants and small children from fatal diarrhoeal diseases. Let’s celebrate World ORS Day and acknowledge the role of Oral Rehydration Salts as a life-saving solution.
