When a child has diarrhea or is vomiting, it is important to replace the fluids he or she is losing.
Dehydration is very dangerous in children and it is the major cause of death in children who have diarrhoea or excessive vomiting. For this reason, it is very important for every mother to know how to make ORS at home in order to prevent dehydration in children when they have diarrhoea or are vomiting excessively.
Unlike adults, infants cannot ask for water when they are dehydrated, so it is very important for mothers to know the signs of dehydration.
THE FOLLOWING SIGNS CAN LET YOU KNOW WHEN YOUR CHILD IS DEHYDRATED
- Sleepiness.
- Irritability.
- Thirst.
- Less elasticity in the skin.
- Eyes and fontanel (or soft spot on head) appear sunken.
- Decrease or absence of tears.
- Dry mouth.
- Decrease number of wet diapers.
HOW TO PREPARE AN ORAL REHYDRATION SOLUTION
INGREDIENTS
(1) Sugar
(2) Salts
(3) Clean water
METHOD
- Measure Six (6) level teaspoons of Sugar.
- Measure Half (1/2) level teaspoon of Salt.
- Then add the above to One Litre of clean drinking or boiled water and then cooled
Give this solution to your child anytime you discover that your child is dehydrated. Make sure it is enough to replace lost fluid. If this does not work make sure you rush your child to children emergency for prompt management. If the child’s condition is deteriorating with no improvement and he/she refuses to take the fluid or is in coma, it means that your child is severely dehydrated and if prompt intravenous rehydration is not commenced, the child may die.
Always visit your physician for advice. Children are gifts from God and should be taken care of.