Define Oral rehydration for treatment for pem?
Since diarrhoea is very common in severe PEM, correction of dehydration is the first step in the treatment. Homemade (salt-sugar mixture) or commercial oral rehydration solution (ORS) can be administered to correct dehydration. The WHO recommends that the ORS formula should contain sodium chloride: 3.5 g, sodium bicarbonate: 2.5 g, potassium chloride: 1.5 g and glucose: 20 g. It should be dissolved in a litre of clean water and given to the child in small quantities at frequent intervals at the rate of 70-100 ml/kg body weight. Intravenous fluids are required only in severe dehydration.