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For parents of a child with loose motions, with or without vomiting. A baby under 6 months should be seen by a doctor.

Drawing: An ORS packet mixed in a jug of water, a glass and spoon, zinc tablets, soft food and a banana. — An ORS packet mixed in a jug of water, a glass and spoon, zinc tablets, soft food and a banana.

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ORS is the treatment

Buy ORS that says WHO formula on the pack. Sweet tetra-pack "energy" or "electrolyte" drinks are not ORS and can make loose motions worse.
Mix the whole packet in the amount of clean drinking water printed on it. A large packet (about 21 g) goes in 1 litre. A small packet (about 4 g) goes in 200 ml. Use boiled and cooled water if you can.
Do not add sugar, and do not use part of a packet.
Keep it covered. Throw away what is left after 24 hours and make fresh.

How much ORS after each loose motion

Age	After each loose motion
Under 2 years	50 to 100 ml (a quarter to half a cup)
2 to 10 years	100 to 200 ml (half to one cup)
Over 10 years	As much as the child wants

If the child vomits: wait 10 minutes, then start again more slowly, a spoonful every 2 to 3 minutes. Most children keep it down this way.

Zinc

6 months and older: 20 mg once a day for 14 days.
2 to 6 months: 10 mg once a day for 14 days.
Give all 14 days even after the motions stop. It shortens this illness and protects against the next one.

Keep feeding

Continue breastfeeding, more often than usual.
Give normal home food in small, frequent amounts: khichdi, curd rice, dal, banana.
Give one extra meal a day for one to two weeks after recovery.
Wash hands with soap after the toilet or changing a nappy, and before preparing food.

Avoid

Soft drinks, packaged fruit juice, sweet tea, and glucose water alone
Medicines that stop motions. They are not safe for children.
Antibiotics, unless a doctor prescribes them
Stopping food to "rest" the stomach

Take the child to a hospital now if

The child is drowsy, limp or difficult to wake
The child cannot drink or breastfeed, or vomits everything
The eyes are sunken, the mouth is very dry, or there are no tears
No urine for 6 to 8 hours
There is blood in the stool
The vomit is green
The stomach is swollen, or the child has constant pain
There is high fever (39 °C or more), or fast or difficult breathing

Caspian has no children's ward and no children's emergency room. Take the child to the nearest hospital with a children's emergency department, or call 108.

See a doctor the same day if

The baby is under 6 months old
The child is very thirsty and drinks quickly, or is restless and cranky
The loose motions last more than 7 days. Beyond 14 days always needs tests.
The child is not getting better

Questions about this sheet? Call Caspian Healthcare reception on +91 89193 41154. A doctor is on duty at all hours for problems that are not critical. Caspian has no emergency department: in an emergency call 108.

Where this comes from

Prepared by Caspian Healthcare from the sources above. Last reviewed October 2026. General information: your own doctor's written instructions come first.