Clinical application of oral rehydration solution

Abstract

The administration of oral rehydration solution (ORS) has rescued the lives of people with diarrhea. Although diarrhea mortality rates have dropped by 75% from 1980 to 2008 in worldwide, diarrhea continues to be a major cause of child death, especially in children younger than 5 years. The clinical application of the standard WHO-ORS in large-scale campaigns resulted in decreased mortality associated with acute diarrheal disease in children. Many clinical trials on variants of ORS such as hypo-osmolar solutions, rice-based solutions, zinc supplementation, and the addition on other advantageous substances have been performed to improve outcomes of diarrheal treatment. This paper reviews the pathophysiologic base and history of ORS, composition of ORS, and its clinical use for acute diarrhea and other intestinal diseases.