Dehydration is not just caused by diarrhea — it’s a hidden risk in many common illnesses. Research in the Journal of the Association of Physicians of India (JAPI) shows that people with fever, infections, vomiting, heat-related illnesses, or tropical diseases like dengue and malaria often become dehydrated, but it is rarely detected or reported.
Why it matters: When someone’s fever goes above 39°C, they can lose almost 900 ml of fluids per day, plus extra water through breathing and coughing. But despite this, dehydration is hardly being checked or recorded — only 0.02% of 1.84 crore patients had it noted in their medical records.
Even more surprising? Only about 1% of patients were given oral fluids, electrolytes, and energy (FEE) solutions. Of these, around 29% received ready-to-drink options like ORSL, which are known to help people recover faster from illnesses such as respiratory infections, dengue, typhoid, and malaria. For diabetic patients, ORSL Rehydrate was the preferred choice.
Dr. Harshad Malve, Medical Head at Kenvue, said this shows why dehydration should be checked from day one and treated with science-backed FEE (Fluid, Electrolytes, and Energy) drinks. Meanwhile, Dr. Manoj Chawla, Diabetologist, added that doctors often focus only on the main illness and overlook dehydration, which can slow down recovery if not addressed.
The study also looked at ORSL Immunity+, which may help boost immunity, reduce inflammation, and provide antioxidants — showing that staying hydrated with added nutrients can speed up recovery.
Using real-world data from 2.24 crore patients, this new study by Kenvue India highlights the need to improve awareness, screening, and prescription practices for dehydration in non-diarrheal conditions — essentially saying: “Hydrate smarter, recover faster.”
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