Optical Network
Dehydration is a common flu symptom and happens when the body loses too much water. It is important that anyone who is sick drink lots of liquids to help them fight or recover from the flu.
If the sick adult or child has not urinated in more than 12 hours and has symptoms such as a dry mouth, dry eyes or little or no tears, and has an overall sick appearance. You should call for medical advice.
Signs of Dehydration include:
- Little or no urine
- Dark and concentrated urine
- Dry mouth with decreased saliva
- Dry eyes with little or no tear production
- Sunken eyes
- Weakness
- Tiredness
- Headache
- Loss of skin elasticity
- Dizziness
- Fainting
Treatment:
Giving liquids
Begin giving liquids at the first sign of the flu to maintain the right level of hydration. Keep doing this until they look better or their urine is a light yellow. Give them small amounts of liquids frequently. Watch for an increase in urination, a lighter color of urine and overall improvement of flu symptoms. These are signs that the liquids are working.
If the sick adult or child is vomiting, do not give any liquids or food by mouth for at least an hour. Let the stomach rest and then give a clear liquid, like water or broth, in small amounts.
Liquids to Avoid
Avoid certain liquids like alcohol and caffeinated drinks as they can cause further dehydration.
Acceptable liquids
Age group – Infants <1 year of age
- Breast milk
- Standard infant formula
- Store-bought oral rehydration solution
- Diluted juices
- Home made cereal based oral rehydration solution.
Age group – Toddlers -1 to 3 years of age
- Milk
- Store – bought oral rehydration solution
- Broth, Soup, Juices
- Home made cereal based oral rehydration solution.
Age group – Children over 3 years, teens and adults
- Water
- Broth, soup, Juices
- Home made cereal based oral rehydration solution.
Home made Oral Rehydration Solution Recipes
Instead of a store bought rehydration or sports drinks you can make your own oral rehydration solution at home.
Preparing a one liter oral rehydration solution using salt, sugar and water
Ingredients:
One level teaspoon of salt
Eight level teaspoon of sugar
One liter of clean drinking water or boiled water and then cooled 3 cupful’s (each cup about 200ml)
Preparation method:
- Stir the mixture till the salt and sugar dissolve. An efficient and effective homemade remedy to be used when watery diarrhoea strikes and is a good substitute for oral rehydration salts.
Homemade cereal-based Oral Rehydration Solution
Ingredients:
1/2 to 1 cup precooked baby rice cereal or 11/2tablespoons of granulated sugar
2 cups of water
1/2 tsp. salt
Preparation:
- Mix well the rice cereal (or sugar), water and salt together until the mixture thickens but is not too thick to drink.
- Give the mixture often by spoon and offer as much as the sick person will accept.
