In pediatric dehydration, what is the recommended volume of oral rehydration solution (ORS) for mild to moderate dehydration, and over what time period should it be given?

• A. 25 mL/kg of ORS over 2 hours
• B. 50 mL/kg of ORS over 4 hours
• C. 100 mL/kg of ORS over 6 hours
• D. 10 mL/kg of ORS over 1 hour

Answer: (B)

The important point is how to replace fluid losses safely with oral rehydration in a child who is mildly to moderately dehydrated. For these cases, the recommended approach is to give 50 mL of oral rehydration solution per kilogram of body weight over about 4 hours. This dosing provides enough volume to correct the deficit and ongoing losses while staying within the gut’s absorptive capacity, helping glucose and electrolytes be absorbed together to restore balance. The pace is roughly 12.5 mL/kg per hour, so you can tailor the amount to the child’s weight and monitor tolerance. For example, a 12 kg child would aim for about 600 mL over those 4 hours.

If vomiting occurs, offer smaller, more frequent sips and resume the plan as tolerated. Continue feeding as appropriate and monitor for signs of improvement. It’s important to distinguish this from severe dehydration, where IV isotonic fluids are needed promptly rather than oral rehydration.