Brief description

Oral Rehydration Therapy (ORT) is a type of fluid replacement used to prevent and treat dehydration, especially that due to diarrhea. It involves drinking water with modest amounts of sugar and salts, specifically sodium and potassium. It is a simple, cost-effective life-saving technology.

Use / Function

Its practical purpose is to restore fluid and electrolyte balance:

Primary use: Treatment of dehydration caused by diarrhea, cholera, or heat stroke.
Secondary uses: Recovery after intense physical exertion.
Scale: Domestic and clinical.

Operating principle

Sodium-Glucose Cotransport:

The intestinal absorption of sodium is significantly enhanced when glucose (sugar) is present.
Sodium and glucose are transported together across the intestinal wall.
This creates an osmotic gradient that pulls water into the body from the intestine.
Even when the intestine is secreting fluid (diarrhea), it can still absorb fluid if the correct ratio of salt and sugar is present.

How to create it

Home-made recipe:
- 1 liter of clean Water.
- 6 level teaspoons of Sugar.
- 1/2 level teaspoon of Salt.
Essential: The ratio is critical. Too much sugar can worsen diarrhea by pulling water out of the body (osmotic diarrhea).
Technical level: Basic.

Materials needed

Essential materials: Clean Water (boiled if possible), Salt (Sodium Chloride), Sugar (Sucrose/Glucose).
Tools: Measuring containers and spoons.
Possible substitutes: Rice water, coconut water, or weak teas (though precise ratios are harder to maintain).

Variants and improvements

Standard ORS (Oral Rehydration Salts): Pre-packaged sachets containing sodium chloride, trisodium citrate, potassium chloride, and glucose.
Rice-based ORT: Uses rice powder instead of glucose; can be more effective in reducing stool volume.

Limits and risks

Contaminated Water: If the water used to make ORT is contaminated, it can introduce more pathogens.
Incorrect Ratios: Too much salt is dangerous (hypernatremia), and too much sugar can be counterproductive.
Vomiting: If the person is vomiting frequently, ORT must be administered in very small, frequent sips.
Severe Dehydration: In cases of extreme shock, intravenous (IV) fluids may be necessary if the person cannot drink.