Oral Rehydration Salts (ORS)
Also known as: ORS, Electrolyte solution, Rehydration salts, Dioralyte, Pedialyte, Electrolit
ORS is a precise mix of salts and sugar dissolved in water that treats dehydration faster than water alone.
Last updated: 2 April 2026
Real-world example
After a bout of food poisoning in Phnom Penh, you can't keep solid food down and you're losing fluids rapidly. A pharmacy sells you ORS sachets for $0.20 each. You dissolve one in a litre of clean water and sip it steadily. Within hours your energy returns and the dizziness fades. Plain water alone wouldn't have replaced the sodium and potassium you lost.
Why travellers need to know
ORS is the WHO's recommended first-line treatment for dehydration from diarrhoea, vomiting, and heat illness. It's cheap, available in virtually every pharmacy worldwide, and more effective than water, sports drinks, or soft drinks for rehydration. Carrying a few sachets in your bag is one of the simplest and most effective health preparations for any trip to a warm or high-risk destination.
Country-specific notes
ORS sachets cost $0.05-0.10; available at every pharmacy
India manufactures ORS at massive scale. Sachets are available at every pharmacy, most general stores, and many tea stalls for a few rupees. The Indian government distributes ORS widely as part of diarrhoeal disease programmes. Brand names include Electral and ORS-WHO.
Frequently asked questions
Related guides
How Nomedic helps
Your Nomedic record shows your full medication list in the local language, so a pharmacist abroad can check for interactions before recommending an ORS brand.
Sources
Your health records, anywhere you go
Your medications, translated for any pharmacist.
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