Can ORS assist CKD patients with diarrhea and vomiting?

Question

Hi doctor,

My father is suffering from CKD, and he has a creatinine of 2.7 mg/dL. He also has a CAD and got a heart attack last year. Sometimes, he also has loose motion and vomiting. What can I do now? Should I have to give him ORS or not? Please help.

Answer 1

Hi,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

You have mentioned the age of your father. If your father has an age of 65 years with a weight of 60 kilograms, the creatinine clearance will be around 23 mg/dL, and it puts your father in stage 4 CKD. I do not know the exact age and the nature of treatment used for him.

Please mention about the treatment taken. Please say whether he takes renal replacement therapy (hemodialysis or peritoneal dialysis) or not. If he is not taking it, ORS (oral rehydration solution) can cause harm.

In a patient with CKD (chronic kidney disease), who is not under renal replacement therapy, should not take ORS or any other fluid intake as it can lead to volume overload. As he has a history of CAD, it will also cause harm to his health. The symptoms of loose motion and vomiting occur due to many causes. One of them can be infections. Also, certain medications can also be responsible for these symptoms.

In general, ORS is safe for patients of any age. It is not right to use ORS for your father because of his poor kidney function and due to reduced urine production. In this condition, his body will retain excess fluid, and it causes more harm than benefit.