ORS & Dehydration — What Actually Works
Loose motions, vomiting and heavy heat all drain water and salts from the body. The simple, proven fix is oral rehydration solution (ORS) — a measured mix of salt, sugar and clean water. The WHO notes ORS can successfully treat a large share of dehydration cases, and it costs almost nothing.
Signs of dehydration
- Dry mouth, thirst, or dark yellow urine
- Feeling weak, dizzy or light-headed on standing
- Sunken eyes, or skin that stays pinched when gently released
- In babies — fewer wet nappies, drowsiness, crying without tears
- Muscle cramps
The WHO home ORS recipe
If you do not have a ready ORS sachet, the WHO gives this home recipe for one litre of solution:
Home ORS — 1 litre
- Half a level teaspoon of salt
- Six level teaspoons of sugar
- One litre of clean, safe drinking water (boiled and cooled is safest)
Stir until the salt and sugar dissolve completely. Drink it in small sips, regularly.
Measure carefully — this matters
The amounts must be exact. Indian Academy of Pediatrics guidance warns that too much sugar can make diarrhoea worse, and too much salt is dangerous (it can raise sodium to unsafe levels). Use level spoons, not heaped ones.
If you have an ORS packet
- Wash your hands first.
- Mix the whole sachet in exactly the amount of clean water printed on the packet (usually one litre).
- Add water only — never milk, soup, fruit juice or soft drinks.
- Stir well and give it from a clean cup or spoon (not a bottle).
- Use it within 24 hours; throw away any unused solution after that.
Good habits alongside ORS
- Keep drinking in small, frequent sips — especially after every loose stool.
- Continue eating and breastfeeding where possible; don't starve.
- If the person vomits, wait about 10 minutes, then resume slowly with a teaspoon every few minutes — vomiting usually settles.
- Plain water alone is not enough for significant diarrhoea — the salts and sugar matter.
Go to a hospital immediately if
- There is blood in the stools, or severe stomach pain
- The person cannot drink, keeps vomiting everything, or is very drowsy or unconscious
- There are no tears, no urine for many hours, or sunken eyes in a child
- High fever, or symptoms lasting more than a couple of days
Dehydration can become life-threatening, especially in infants and older adults. Do not wait. Emergency: 112. Medical helpline: 104.
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Fever, dehydration, when to see a doctor, first aid — verified answers, with sources.
Chat with aneev AI• WHO — oral rehydration solution (ORS) guidance and home recipe
• Indian Academy of Pediatrics (IAP) — home ORS preparation and safety warnings
• CDAC Network — preparing and using ORS safely
• Govt of India helplines — 112 (emergency), 104 (medical)
Disclaimer: This article is general wellness information for educational purposes — not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Always consult a qualified physician. In an emergency, call 112 (India) immediately.