Oral rehydration salts

Oral rehydration salts

This leaflet has been written for parents and carers about how to use this medicine in
children. Our information sometimes differs from that provided by the manufacturers,
because their information is usually aimed at adult patients. Please read this leaflet
carefully. Keep it somewhere safe so that you can read it again.

Brand names: Dioralyte®, Dioralyte® Relief, Electrolade®

Why is it important for my child to take this medicine?

Although diarrhoea in children usually gets better on its own, it causes loss of water and
salts. This may lead to dehydration, which can be dangerous, especially in very young
children, because it is difficult to see the signs of dehydration. Your child may be
dehydrated if they have any of the following:

 fewer wet nappies, nappies that are lighter than usual, or an older child is urinating
(weeing) less often
 they are less active than normal
 a dry mouth
 crying without tears
 a sunken soft spot on the top of a baby’s head.

Oral rehydration salts do not treat the diarrhoea itself, but they replace the salts and
water that are lost, and so reduce the effects of dehydration. If your child has the above
symptoms and they are not getting better, contact your doctor or local NHS services.
(111 in parts of England, 0845 4647 in parts of England and Wales, 0845 24 24 24 in
Scotland).

What are oral rehydration salts available as?
Oral powder: one sachet is mixed with 200 mL tap water. All makes of oral rehydration
salts contain some sugar.

When should I give oral rehydration salts?
Oral rehydration salts are usually given after each runny poo (diarrhoea).

How much should I give?
Your doctor will work out the amount of oral rehydration salts (the dose) that is right for
your child. If you have bought them from your pharmacy, the dose will be shown on the
medicine label. Encourage your child to drink as much as they can of the recommended
dose.

It is important that you follow your doctor’s instructions about how much to
give.

How should I give it?
Oral powder: open the sachet and pour the contents into 200 mL of tap water (this must
be cooled boiled water for babies aged under 1 year). Stir well until all the powder has
gone and the mixture is clear or just slightly cloudy. Make sure your child drinks the full
dose needed. If they cannot drink it all in one go, they can drink it over about 30 minutes.
It may help to use a straw.

Do not keep the solution for more than one hour at room temperature. If you keep it in
a fridge you may keep it for 24 hours

When should the medicine start working?
Oral rehydration salts should start working quickly and dehydration usually gets better
within 3 to 4 hours.

What if my child is sick (vomits)?
Often, sickness and diarrhoea come together, with a tummy bug (gastroenteritis). If your
child is being sick as well as having diarrhoea, make up the full amount of oral
rehydration salts but give small amounts often (10–20 mL every 5–10 minutes), as large
drinks can make your child sick. It is important that you make sure the full amount is still
given over a longer time.

 If your child is sick less than 30 minutes after drinking the oral rehydration salts,
give them again.
 If your child is sick more than 30 minutes after drinking the oral rehydration salts,
you do not need to give them again.

You will not harm your child by giving too much of the oral rehydration salts, so if you
are not sure how much your child has kept down, because they are being sick, it is better
to give more rather than less of the oral rehydration salts. Any oral rehydration salts that
you have mixed with water but have not used should be thrown away after one hour
(unless stored in a fridge, where they may be kept for 24 hours).

What if I forget to give it?
Give the missed dose as soon as you remember.

What if I give too much?
You will not do harm if you give an extra dose of oral rehydration salts by mistake.

Are there any possible side-effects?
We use medicines to make our children better, but sometimes they have other effects
that we don’t want (side-effects). However, oral rehydration salts don’t often have any
side effects. If you notice anything unusual and are worried, contact your doctor. You
can report any suspected side-effects to a UK safety scheme at
http://yellowcard.mhra.gov.uk.

Can other medicines be given at the same time as oral rehydration salts?

 You can give your child medicines that contain paracetamol or ibuprofen, unless
your doctor has told you not to.
 You must tell your doctor if your child has ever had an allergic reaction or other
reaction to any medicine they have been given before. If you have forgotten to tell
your doctor, check with the doctor or pharmacist before giving oral rehydration salts
to your child.
 Check with your doctor or pharmacist before giving any other medicines to your
child. This includes herbal or complementary medicines.

Is there anything else I need to know about this medicine?
If your child is not able to keep down any fluids at all and is showing signs of becoming
dehydrated (see above), contact your doctor straight away.

 If your child will not take the rehydration salts then try to give them water (cooled
boiled water for babies aged under 1 year) or weak juice. Contact your doctor if
they will not take any fluids.
 In the first 24 hours, it is best for babies with diarrhoea not to have any feeds except
breastfeeds. In older children, you should limit solid foods or milk for the first 24
hours, as this may make the diarrhoea get worse. If your child seems to be getting
better, you can give them water or juice to drink as usual but continue to give the
rehydration salts after every runny poo.
 Normal feeding should be started again after 24 hours, as the diarrhoea gets better.
Your child may have some mild diarrhoea for up to a month after having a tummy
bug (gastroenteritis). If your child’s diarrhoea is very bad and not getting better
after 48 hours, and you are worried that your child is losing too much fluid, contact
a doctor.
 You should not use oral rehydration salts to treat diarrhoea for more than 2–3 days,
unless your doctor has told you to.
 You should only use water to mix with the oral rehydration salts; do not use milk or
juice and never add extra sugar or salt. This is because the rehydration salts
contain the right mix of water and salts to help the body best.
 You must be careful to use the right amount of water to make up the medicine, as
too much or too little can mean the salts in your child’s body are not properly
balanced.
 If your child has liver or kidney disease, you should not use oral rehydration salts
unless your doctor has told you to. If your child has diabetes, you should be aware
that this medicine contains sugar. Contact your doctor or diabetes nurse for advice.

General advice about medicines
 If you are not sure a medicine is working, contact your doctor but continue to give
the medicine as usual in the meantime.
 Only give this medicine to your child. Never give it to anyone else. If their condition
appears to be the same, they should see a doctor.
 If you think someone else may have taken the medicine by accident, contact your
doctor.
 Make sure that the medicine you have at home has not reached the ‘best before’
or ‘use by’ date on the packaging. Give old medicines to your pharmacist to dispose
of.

Where I should keep this medicine?
 Keep the sachets of medicine in a cupboard, away from heat and direct sunlight.
 Make sure that children cannot see or reach the medicine.
 Keep the medicine in the container it came in.

Who to contact for more information
Your doctor, pharmacist or nurse will be able to give you more information about oral
rehydration salts and about other medicines used to treat dehydration.

You can also get useful information from:
NHS 111: 111 – www.nhs.uk
NHS Direct: 0845 4647 – www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk

If your symptoms or condition worsens, or if you are concerned about anything,
please call your GP, 111, or 999.

Patient Experience
We know that being admitted to hospital can be a difficult and unsettling time for you
and your loved ones. If you have any questions or concerns, please do speak with a
member of staff on the ward or in the relevant department who will do their best to
answer your questions and reassure you.

Feedback
Feedback is really important and useful to us – it can tell us where we are working well
and where improvements can be made. There are lots of ways you can share your
experience with us including completing our Friends and Family Test – cards are
available and can be posted on all wards, departments and clinics at our hospitals. We
value your comments and feedback and thank you for taking the time to share this with
us.

Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS)
If you have any concerns or questions about your care, we advise you to talk with the
nurse in charge or the department manager in the first instance as they are best placed
to answer any questions or resolve concerns quickly. If the relevant member of staff is
unable to help resolve your concern, you can contact the PALS Team. We offer informal
help, advice or support about any aspect of hospital services & experiences.

Our PALS team will liaise with the various departments in our hospitals on your behalf,
if you feel unable to do so, to resolve your problems and where appropriate refer to
outside help.

If you are still unhappy you can contact the Complaints Department, who can investigate
your concerns. You can make a complaint orally, electronically or in writing and we can
advise and guide you through the complaints procedure.

How to contact PALS:
Telephone Patient Services: 0300 123 1732 or via email at: wah-tr.PET@nhs.net

Opening times:
The PALS telephone lines are open Monday to Thursday from 8.30am to 4.30pm and
Friday: 8.30am to 4.00pm. Please be aware that a voicemail service is in use at busy
times, but messages will be returned as quickly as possible.

If you are unable to understand this leaflet, please communicate with a member of staff.

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