When travelers’ diarrhea strikes, be prepared to treat dehydration.

The correct treatment of severe diarrhea starts with the replacement of salt and water, and a balanced solution is essential for optimal results, especially when treating infants and children.

Each packet of the World Health Organization oral rehydration salts (ORS) will allow you to prepare 1 liter of rehydration solution. These packets should be a part of every travel kit, especially if you will be traveling in the tropics with children or going where cholera is reported to be active. (Over 60 countries are now reporting cases.)

If you are in doubt about the safety of the water used to prepare the solution, use one of the purifying products featured on this page.