As a subject matter expert in public health, I can provide you with information on the composition of an Oral Rehydration Solution (ORS) packet. ORS is a critical intervention for the treatment of dehydration caused by diarrhea, especially in children. It helps to replace lost fluids and electrolytes, which are crucial for maintaining the body's balance.

A typical ORS packet contains a mixture of sugar, salt, and other minerals. The specific components may vary slightly depending on the manufacturer, but the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) have established a standard formulation known as the Low Osmolarity ORS (LORS). Here's what you can generally find in a packet:


1. Glucose: A type of sugar that aids in the absorption of sodium and water.

2. Salt (Sodium Chloride): Essential for maintaining the body's electrolyte balance.

3. Potassium: Often in the form of potassium chloride, it helps to replace lost potassium.

4. Trisodium Citrate: This is added to improve the taste and to serve as a buffer.

5. Anhydrous Gluconate: Another form of glucose that helps in the absorption of water and electrolytes.

The quantities of these components are carefully balanced to ensure the solution has the correct osmolarity, which is crucial for effective rehydration.

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Oral Rehydration Therapy (ORT) is best administered with the use of a pre-packed formula called Oral Rehydration Salts (ORS) available in a packet. ORS is a sodium and glucose solution used to treat children with acute diarrhoea.read more >>