Author: Nick Hatch, MD

Educational Pearls:

• The sodium-glucose cotransporter in the gut is essential for rehydration.

• Oral rehydration therapies require an equimolar concentration of glucose and sodium to be effective.

• ORT has saved millions of lives globally.

• Consider using ORT in patients with dehydration. Especially useful in resource limited settings.

References:

Victora CG, Bryce J, Fontaine O, Monasch R. Reducing deaths from diarrhoea through oral rehydration therapy. Bull World Health Organ. 2000; 78:1246.

Santillanes G, Rose E. Evaluation and Management of Dehydration in Children. Emerg Med Clin North Am. 2018. 36(2):259-273. doi: 10.1016/j.emc.2017.12.004.