3.11 Oral Rehydration Therapy

Question 1

Why is just drinking water ineffective when dehydrated from diarrhoea?

Answer 1

Water is not being absorbed from the intestine. The drinking water does not replace the electrolytes that are being lost from the epithelial cells.

Question 2

What five things does a rehydration solution need to contain?

Answer 2

1. Water
2. Sodium
3. Glucose
4. Potassium
5. Other Electrolytes

Question 3

What is the water used for?

Answer 3

To rehydrate the tissues

Question 4

What is the sodium used for?

Answer 4

To replace the sodium ions lost from the epithelial cells, and to make optimum use of the sodium-glucose carrier proteins.

Question 5

What is the glucose used for?

Answer 5

To stimulate the uptake of sodium ions from the intestine and to provide energy.

Question 6

What is potassium used for?

Answer 6

to replace lost potassium ions and to stimulate the appetite.

Question 7

What are the other electrolytes used for?

Answer 7

To help prevent electrolyte imbalance.