Question

1. What is meant by the term oral rehydration therapy?

2. What are the major components of a typical homemade oral rehydration solution?

3. Explain the rationale for each component typically included in the oral rehydration solution

Answer 1

Oral rehydration therapy is a type of fluid replacement used to prevent and treat dehydration , especially due to diarrhoea.

It involves drinking water with modest amount of sugar and salts, specially sodium and potassium.

Homemade oral rehydration solutions contains salt, sugar and clean water

For these type of hydrating solution the goal is to bring salt into your cells. In order to do this you must have glucose because glucose is used in your cells to transport sodium. Otherwise sodium will be flushed out of your body. This is the reason for adding sugar

When the uptake of salt increases it thus helps in uptake of water which will be absorbed by intestine.