Health · Everyday health
Signs of Dehydration and How to Use ORS
Quick answer
Dehydration means your body has lost more water and salts than it has taken in, often because of diarrhoea, vomiting, fever or heat. Early signs are thirst, dark yellow urine, a dry mouth and dizziness. Oral rehydration solution (ORS), made from a packet with safe water, replaces lost water and salts; confusion, cold or blotchy skin, or a baby who is very drowsy needs emergency care.
Diarrhoea, vomiting, fever, hot weather and heavy sweating can all drain water and salts from the body. WHO calls dehydration the most serious danger of diarrhoea, especially for young children. The good news is that mild dehydration is easy to treat at home if you catch it early.
What are the signs of dehydration?
In adults and older children
- Feeling thirsty
- Dark yellow, strong-smelling urine, or passing urine less often
- Headache, dizziness or light-headedness
- Tiredness
- Dry mouth, lips and tongue
- Sunken eyes
In babies
- A sunken soft spot on the top of the head
- Sunken eyes
- Few or no tears when crying
- Fewer wet nappies than usual
- Being drowsy or irritable
What is ORS and how does it work?
Oral rehydration solution (ORS) is a mix of clean water, salt and sugar in the right amounts. It is absorbed in the small intestine and replaces the water and salts lost through diarrhoea and vomiting. ORS powder is sold in pharmacies and shops in small packets.
How to prepare ORS from a packet
- Wash your hands with soap and water.
- Use a clean container big enough for the amount of water written on the packet.
- Pour in safe water, boiled and cooled, or treated, in exactly the amount the packet says.
- Add the whole packet and stir until the powder dissolves.
Always follow the packet instructions for the amount of water.
What if I have no ORS packet?
The Red Cross (IFRC) says a home-made salt and sugar solution can be used only when packets are not available. For one litre of safe water, mix in half a small spoon of salt (about 3.5 grams) and eight small spoons of sugar (about 40 grams). Stir until fully dissolved. Get proper ORS packets as soon as you can.
How to give ORS
- Start giving it as soon as diarrhoea or vomiting begins, even on the way to a clinic.
- If the person feels sick, give small sips often and slowly increase the amount.
- Keep breastfeeding babies, and keep offering normal nutritious food during and after the illness.
- For children with diarrhoea, WHO also recommends zinc supplements for 10 to 14 days; ask a health worker about this.
When to see a doctor
Get medical advice the same day if:
- The person is unusually tired or keeps feeling dizzy when standing
- Urine stays dark or very little is passed
- Breathing or heartbeat is fast
- A baby has no tears, a sunken soft spot or few wet nappies
- Diarrhoea contains blood, or does not stop
- The person cannot drink or keeps vomiting everything
Call Rescue 1122 or go to hospital immediately if there are signs of shock: cold, pale or blotchy skin, difficulty breathing, confusion, or being very drowsy or hard to wake.
Frequently asked questions
Can I make ORS at home?
The Red Cross (IFRC) gives a home recipe of one litre of safe water, half a small spoon of salt and eight small spoons of sugar, but only for when ORS packets are not available. Packet ORS is preferred because the amounts are exact.
Should I stop feeding my child during diarrhoea?
No. WHO advises continuing breastfeeding and nutritious food during diarrhoea, alongside ORS.
How do I know if dehydration is severe?
WHO lists signs such as being very drowsy or unconscious, sunken eyes, being unable to drink, and skin that goes back very slowly when pinched. These need urgent medical care.
In an emergency call Rescue 1122 where the service is available, or go to the nearest hospital emergency department.
Sources
- Dehydration — NHS
- Diarrhoeal disease — WHO
- Preparing oral rehydration solution (ORS) — IFRC (Red Cross) Epidemic Control Toolkit
- Treating Cholera — CDC