What is oral rehydration fluid?

Electrolyte solution: Oral rehydration solution is a world health organization recognized solution designed to provide needed electrolytes and fluids to severely dehydrated people. When the body loses fluids, electrolytes shift from inside the cells to outside, and are depleted all over. If rehydration is with water only, it can cause severe imbalances and more damage. Pedialyte is one such electrolyte solution.

Treats dehydration: If a child or adult loses "water" by excessive vomiting or diarrhea, he becomes dehydrated (he no longer has enough water in his body to make adequate blood flow to all the different organs in his body). To treat mild dehydration and return to normal, he must drink a fluid that contains water and a special balance of nutrients such as sugar, sodium, and potassium. A popular brand is pedialyte.

Well balanced drink: Diarrheal stool contains signicant amount of salt, approximately 1/3 of blood level. Any child with diarrhea loses salt as well as water, resulting in shrinkage of circulating blood volume, namely dehydration. The fluid formulated to prevent or to correct dehydration by ingestion is called oral rehydration solution, which contain adequate amount of salt and glucose. Pedialyte is one of ors.