It is one of the members of Vitamin B complex group. It is present in green vegetables, liver, meat and yeast. Deficiency of this vitamin causes anaemia. The body requirement of this vitamin is higher during pregnancy and growth. Its deficiency is common in under-nourished people. Administration of folic acid in such cases corrects this type of anaemia.

It is supplied as 5 mg tablets. In children, it can be given as a syrup containing 2.5 mg per 5 ml. In the treatment of established folic acid deficiency and malnutrition, it is used in the dose of 5 mg thrice daily (3 tablets) for 3 weeks and subsequently 5 mg (1 tablet) daily for another 2 weeks. For preventing folic acid deficiency during pregnancy and lactation, it is started from the fourth month onwards in the dose of 0.5mg daily and it usually combined with one tablet of ferrous sulphate and is continued throughout pregnancy

The patient should be referred to the doctor to find out the cause of anaemia.

A person who passes frequent watery stools loses a large amount of water and salts from the body. Sudden loss of water and salt (dehydration) causes marked weakness, thirst and sunken eyeballs. Severe diarrhea causes decreased urine output, increased pulse rate and unconsciousness resulting in death. It is estimated that about one out of every 10 children born in developing countries dies of diarrhoea before reaching the age of 5. Oral rehydration salts (ORS) contain sugar, and mineral salts needed by the body. When taken dissolved in water, they promptly replace the water and salts lost during diarrhoea and correct dehydration

A person who passes frequent watery stools loses a large amount of water and salts from the body. Sudden loss of water and salt (dehydration) causes marked weakness, thirst and sunken eyeballs. Severe diarrhea causes decreased urine output, increased pulse rate and unconsciousness resulting in death. It is estimated that about one out of every 10 children born in developing countries dies of diarrhoea before reaching the age of 5. Oral rehydration salts (ORS) contain sugar, and mineral salts needed by the body. When taken dissolved in water, they promptly replace the water and salts lost during diarrhoea and correct dehydration

ORS- bicarbonate
Sodium chloride         3.5 g
Sodium bicarbonate   2.5 g
Potassium chloride     1.5 g
Glucose                     20.0 g

Sodium chloride                     3.5 g
Trisodium citrate, dehydrate  2.9g
Potassium chloride                 1.5 g
Glucose                                 20.0 g

Dissolve, immediately before use, one packet in one litre of clean, boiled cooled water, or, because the sizes of packets vary, in the quantity of water indicated on the packet. If a litre measure is not available, use a glass. Average medium size of glass has about 180-200 ml. capacity. Sometimes soft drink bottles with known capacity may be available. The volume of fluid required and the rate at which it should be given depend upon: 1. The weight/ age of the child. 2. The initial degree of dehydration. 3. The rate of fluid loss as long as the diarrhoea persists

Used properly, it is quite safe

A person who passes frequent watery stools loses a large amount of water and salts from the body. Sudden loss of water and salt (dehydration) causes marked weakness, thirst and sunken eyeballs. Severe diarrhea causes decreased urine output, increased pulse rate and unconsciousness resulting in death. It is estimated that about one out of every 10 children born in developing countries dies of diarrhoea before reaching the age of 5. Oral rehydration salts (ORS) contain sugar, and mineral salts needed by the body. When taken dissolved in water, they promptly replace the water and salts lost during diarrhoea and correct dehydration

1. The solution should be prepared fresh every day using a clean utensil and spoons and after washing the hands thoroughly. It should be kept      covered in a cool place.
2. During ORS administration, measure the amount of urine passed. A patient who has received adequate amounts of ORS will pass the normal amount     of urine daily. Failure to increase urine output suggests a need for administering more ORS. Continue ORS therapy till the diarrhoea stops or the     patient is referred to the doctor.
3. If ORS packets are stored at high temperature (more than 30° C) and high humidity for a long time, the product is likely to cake. It can still be used     provided it dissolves completely in water. If the ORS has turned to a brown colour it should not be used.
4. All cases of moderate or severe dehydration should be started on ORS fluid as mentioned above and referred to the doctor.
5. Educate the families and encourage them to begin giving ORS – either complete formula or sugar and salt – on their own.

It relieves pain such as bodyache, headache, muscle pain and joint pain. It also lowers fever without correcting the cause, but it is not useful in rheumatic fever or in the pain associated with swelling. It has an advantage over aspirin in that it does not cause nausea or stomach pain or hyperacidity. It can be given safely in people who cannot tolerate aspirin. It can also be given in liquid form to children. It is not useful in colicky abdominal pain

1. to relieve pain
2. to relieve fever
3. to relieve symptoms of common cold and influenza

It is supplied as tablets containing 500 mg of Paracetamol and as a syrup containing 125 mg of the drug per 5 ml. It is used orally, taken along with plenty of water. It can be taken on an empty stomach. Liquid preparation should be used for children.

Rarely, it causes skin rash. In large doses it can damage the liver

Vitamin B complex is naturally present in whole cereals, unpolished rice, beans, groundnuts, leafy green vegetables, milk and yeast. Its deficiency occurs as a part of general nutritional deficiency. Patients with B complex deficiency complain of lack of energy, burning and tingling in the limbs, pain in the legs, and sore tongue. The lips and tongue become red and lips show cracking, particularly at the angles of the mouth. In addition, deficiency may also cause diarrhoea and skin changes. The skin eruptions are associated with an itching and burning sensation, which become worse on exposure to sun. Later the skin becomes thick, pigmented and rough and assumes a brown-black colour. Severe vitamin B complex deficiency causes marked weakness, difficulty in walking, mental changes and swelling of the body. Death may occur due to heart failure