Four Seasons Pharmacist says: In the diarrhea season, do you know how to use oral rehydration salts?

In the hot summer, many people use various cold drinks and cold foods to cool down, but unexpectedly, they suffer from vomiting and diarrhea after eating a lot. Usually, oral rehydration treatment is needed to maintain electrolyte balance and energy support. So, do you really know how to use oral rehydration salts, which are most commonly used for diarrhea?

What are oral rehydration salts?

Oral rehydration salts are mainly used in the clinic to prevent and treat mild and moderate dehydration caused by diarrhea, and can be used to supplement sodium, potassium and chloride. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), about 90% of acute diarrhea can be safely and effectively treated through oral rehydration without the need for intravenous infusion.

There are strict ratio standards for sodium, sugar and potassium in oral rehydration salts. The oral rehydration salts used in China mainly include oral rehydration salts I, oral rehydration salts II and oral rehydration salts III. At present, it is advocated to switch to hypotonic oral rehydration salts III as the first choice for diarrheal diseases, replacing oral rehydration salts I and II.

How to take oral rehydration salts?

When using oral rehydration salts, dissolve 1 packet in 250 ml (mL) of warm water and take it orally at any time. It should be noted that 1 bag of oral rehydration salts cannot be dissolved in multiple times, otherwise the osmotic pressure may be affected due to the inability to accurately split it. Dosage (mL) = body weight (kg) × (50-75), take it within 4 hours. It can also be estimated based on age. After each diarrhea, take 50 mL for those less than 6 months, 100 mL for those 6 months to 2 years old, 150 mL for those 2 to 10 years old, and drink as needed for patients over 10 years old, in small amounts and multiple times, until the diarrhea stops.

(1) Precautions for use of oral rehydration salts III:

(2) Oral rehydration salts need to be taken intermittently, in small amounts, and multiple times. Do not drink large amounts in a short period of time, otherwise it will increase the gastrointestinal burden and aggravate vomiting or diarrhea.

(3) Nausea and vomiting may occur at the beginning of taking the medicine, but it is usually mild. At this time, you can take it in small amounts in divided doses. For children, you can feed them once every 2 to 3 minutes, 10 to 20 mL each time. If the child vomits, wait 10 minutes before feeding again, but feed slowly.

(4) Patients with diarrhea should not wait until symptoms of dehydration appear before starting to take the medicine. Instead, they should take a certain amount of oral rehydration salts after each loose stool to prevent dehydration.

(5) The prepared solution can be stored for 24 hours. Care should be taken to avoid contamination. It is recommended that the container be covered and stored in a refrigerator.

(6) It is recommended to take oral rehydration salts warm and heat them in water if necessary. Do not add hot water directly.

(7) Do not add sugar, milk, juice, etc. to dissolve oral rehydration salts. Inappropriate concentration may affect the osmotic pressure and thus affect the efficacy of rehydration.

(8) Observe the patient's condition closely. If the patient's symptoms do not improve or any of the following symptoms occur, seek medical attention promptly: ① Increased frequency and amount of diarrhea; ② Inability to eat normally; ③ Frequent vomiting; ④ Fever; ⑤ Obvious thirst; ⑥ Blood in the stool.

What should I pay attention to when I have diarrhea?

(1) Ensure adequate diet

Patients with diarrhea should eat nutritious and easily digestible daily foods in small amounts and multiple times. Avoid vegetables and fruits containing crude fiber, as high-sugar foods will aggravate diarrhea.

(2) Zinc supplementation

Children with acute diarrhea should be given zinc supplementation as soon as they are able to eat. Children over 6 months old should receive 20 mg of elemental zinc per day, while children under 6 months old should receive 10 mg of elemental zinc per day for a total of 10 to 14 days.

(3) Reasonable use of electrolyte water

If rehydration salts are not available, an appropriate amount of electrolyte water can indeed replenish a certain amount of water and electrolytes and relieve discomfort. However, it should be noted that there is currently no national standard for "electrolyte water". You should choose beverages that are clearly marked as "electrolyte water" on the bottle and contain sodium and potassium in the nutrition information or ingredient list. Adding a certain amount of sugar to electrolyte water can allow the small intestine to better absorb water and electrolytes, so "0 sugar 0 calories" electrolyte water is not the best choice for patients with diarrhea.