Oral rehydration therapy uses clean water with the right balance of salts and sugar to help the body absorb fluid lost through diarrhoea.

World Health Organization / UNICEF

HealthScienceFood

Why it matters

The idea in context

Its power is biochemical and practical at once. Glucose helps sodium and water cross the intestinal wall, so a simple solution can pull fluid back into the body when dehydration is the real danger. Medicine is not always a machine; sometimes it is the right ratio in a cup.

Türkçe

Aynı kart, başka bir dilde.

Ağızdan sıvı tedavisi, temiz suya doğru oranda tuz ve şeker katar; ishale bağlı su kaybında bedenin sıvıyı yeniden emmesine yardım eder.

Bu yöntemin gücü hem biyokimyada hem sadelikte yatar. Glikoz, sodyumla birlikte suyun bağırsak duvarından geçmesini kolaylaştırır; asıl tehlike susuz kalmak olduğunda basit bir karışım bedeni yeniden sıvıyla buluşturabilir. Tıp her zaman büyük cihazlardan ibaret değildir; bazen hayat kurtaran şey bir bardaktaki doğru orandır.

Source trail

Read beyond the card.

WHO describes Oral Rehydration Salts solution as a simple, effective and cheap treatment for dehydration from diarrhoea in all age groups except the most severe cases; UNICEF describes ORS as salt and sugar dissolved in clean water to treat dehydration. Sources: https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/WHO-FCH-CAH-06.1 ; https://www.unicef.org/supply/oral-rehydration-salts-ors-and-zinc ; audited 2026-07-07.

Background reading: Oral rehydration therapyAttribution and context are revised when stronger evidence appears. Corrections are welcome through the editorial page.
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