Slide 14
How to give oral fluids
(Review Slide 5)
All these pictures are of a
little girl called Josie. In picture 1 she is lying down.
Q. What physical sign can you see on Josie's abdomen?
A. A fold of skin has been pinched up, and it has not
returned to its normal position.
Q. What does the fold of skin staying up mean?
A. It means that the skin has lost its elasticity. If the skin has its normal elasticity it should become flat
again immediately, too quickly to take a photograph.
Q. So what does the loss of skin elasticity tell you
about Josie's state of hydration?
A. She is moderately or severely dehydrated (Slide
5).
In picture 2 Josie's mother is rehydrating her by mouth with a cup and spoon, using ORS solution.
She is giving her one spoonful every minute to
begin with, because Josie is thirsty, and she is not
vomiting.
Picture 3 shows Josie the next day. She is well
hydrated now. She is still having some loose stools, but
they are less than before. She is eating a little food and
drinking milk today. But her mother is still giving her
extra 'oral fluids', because of the diarrhoea.
Tomorrow, or the next day, she will be completely well
again.
Q. What does Josie's story show?
A. Josie's story shows that oral rehydration can
correct moderate dehydration. Intravenous fluids
were not necessary. Often, ORS solution can
correct even severe dehydration.
Figure 5 - Sign of dehydration appear slowly
