We’re currently on a self-imposed quarantine here. With both children picking up nasty bugs from a soft play centre, our house is full of lurgy. Medicine syringes, duvet dens and a non-stop marathon of Disney have been the order of the day for the past week and I’m now exhausted. Even Craig has succumbed to man-flu so I might as well be floating around in a chamber maid outfit. 
It’s situations like this when you realise the importance of a carefully planned medicine cabinet. There are very few medicines you need a constant supply of when you have children. Fever management medicine is one (trust me, you’ll never want to find yourself dragging poorly babies out of their beds for a midnight Calpol dash!) and hydration salts are another.
When children get sick, either with vomiting or diarrhoea, the symptoms of dehydration manifest themselves in some pretty frightening ways. Their temperature rises, their skin goes mottled and translucent and your child will struggle to keep their eyes open - even when you have Frozen or Toy Story on the telly. If you are attempting to manage their illness from home, there are a number of over-the-counter medicines you can attempt before dialing 111.
Oral rehydration solutions are on the World Health Organization’s List of Essential Medicines, a list of the most important medication needed in a basic health system and should be a hero product in every family’s first aid kit
“WHO Model List of Essential Medicines”World Health Organisation, October 2013
O.R.S Hydration Tablets are a perfect example of this. They’re soluble tablets that contain a scientifically balanced formula of electrolytes, glucose and minerals which when added to water may be used to replenish the body’s water and salts. Suitable for both adults and children, they’re a godsend for re-hydrating the body after a bout of sickness, diarrhoea, or when your child refuses food and drink.
These won’t be new to most of us. I suspect most of us have another well-known brand stashed away in their kitchen drawers. Yet these actually taste nice. Unlike many other brands, they come in 3 different flavours (lemon, blackcurrant and strawberry) and Dexter drinks them all without complaint - trust me, this is a big deal as my son is the fussiest kid ever.
Another tip, if your child is flat out refusing liquid, you can try a fluid challenge. Simply prepare the solution as per the patient information leaflet inside the box. Every ten minutes, administer 10mls to your child via pipette / syringe, until you reach the required dose for their body weight. This is the method favoured by emergency NHS staff as they like to see how your child responds to fluid replacement over time.
They’re also handy for those that lead an active lifestyle in hot climates where dehydration can hit unexpectedly. As they’re in a pocket-sized container, they’re ideal for stashing in your handbag and forgetting about until they’re needed.
Available in 12 and 24 tablet tubes retailing at £4.99 and £6.99 respectively from Asda, Tesco, Boots and chemists and supermarkets nationwide, I’d definitely recommend them if your child routinely refuses other fluid replacement tablets.
Further information on the O.R.S Hydration Tablets range can be found at www.ors.uk.com.
