The amount of ORS (Oral Rehydration Solution) to be given after each stool for children less than 24 months is

RRB Staff Nurse Jaipur-6th June 2018

Child Health Nursing (Pediatrics)

Easy

Appeared in: RRB Staff Nurse Jaipur-6th June 2018

Explanation

The recommended amount of ORS for a child under 24 months after each loose stool is 50-100 ml.
This guideline is part of the WHO's Treatment Plan A, designed to prevent dehydration in children with diarrhea.
This specific volume ensures adequate replacement of lost fluids and electrolytes without overwhelming the child's capacity.

Option A: The range of 40-55 ml is insufficient to replace the fluid lost during a diarrheal episode in this age group, increasing the risk of dehydration.
Option B: Allowing a child under 2 years to drink 'as wanted' is unreliable. They may not drink enough to stay hydrated or may drink too much at once, leading to vomiting. Specific, guided amounts are necessary.
Option C: The volume of 10-30 ml is critically low and would fail to prevent dehydration, making it a dangerous and incorrect choice.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Oral Rehydration Therapy (ORT) dosage for infants as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
A nurse's primary role is to educate caregivers on the '4 Rules of Home Treatment' for diarrhea: give more fluids (ORS), give zinc, continue feeding, and know when to return to the health facility.
Accurate ORS administration is a cornerstone of reducing child mortality from diarrheal diseases, a major global health issue.
What if? If the child shows signs of 'some dehydration' (e.g., restless, irritable, sunken eyes, drinks eagerly), the treatment shifts to Plan B. This involves giving a calculated amount of ORS (75 ml/kg) over 4 hours under supervision at a health facility.

How to Approach the Question

Identify the key clinical parameters in the question: the intervention is ORS, the patient is a child 'less than 24 months', and the timing is 'after each stool'.
Recognize this as a factual recall question based on established international public health guidelines (WHO/UNICEF).
Recall or look for the standard ORS dosage for infants and young children for the prevention of dehydration (Treatment Plan A).
Evaluate the options based on the standard guideline. The range 50-100 ml directly matches the recommendation for children under 2 years.
Eliminate other options: '10-30 ml' and '40-55 ml' are too low, and 'As wanted' is the guideline for older children and adults, not infants.

Concept Tested & Keywords

Concept Tested: Oral Rehydration Therapy (ORT) dosage for infants.
Stem keywords: ORS, Oral Rehydration Solution, children, less than 24 months, after each stool
Lead-in keywords: amount
Clinical cues: Age: less than 24 months - This is a critical parameter for determining the correct fluid volume.
Negative lead-in flag: false

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E6 Parks TextBook of Preventive & Social Medicine part 1 — Subpart B (pp 202-403 of 604) p. 80-82

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