Facts for Life
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Diarrhoea

Supporting Information

Key Message 5:

If the child is dehydrated with severe or persistent diarrhoea, only oral rehydration solution or medicines recommended by a trained health worker should be used. Other diarrhoea medicines are generally ineffective and could be harmful to the child.

Diarrhoea usually cures itself in a few days. The real danger is the loss of liquid and nutrients from the child's body, which can cause dehydration and malnutrition.

A child with diarrhoea should never be given any tablets, antibiotics or other medicines unless these have been prescribed by a trained health worker.

The best treatment for diarrhoea is to drink lots of liquids and oral rehydration salts (ORS) properly mixed with water.

If ORS packets are not available, dehydration can be treated by giving the child a drink made with four level teaspoons of sugar and half a level teaspoon of salt dissolved in one litre of clean water. Be very careful to mix the correct amounts, as too much sugar can make the diarrhoea worse, and too much salt can be extremely harmful to the child. If the mixture is made a little too diluted no harm can be done and there is very little loss of effectiveness.

Measles frequently causes severe diarrhoea. Immunizing children against measles prevents this cause of diarrhoea.

ORS solution

A special drink for diarrhoea

What is ORS?

ORS (oral rehydration salts) is a special combination of dry salts that, when properly mixed with safe water, can help rehydrate the body when a lot of fluid has been lost due to diarrhoea.

Where can ORS be obtained?

In most countries, ORS packets are available from health centres, pharmacies, markets and shops.

To make the ORS drink:
  1. Put the contents of the ORS packet in a clean container. Check the packet for directions and add the correct amount of clean water. Too little water could make the diarrhoea worse.
  2. Add water only. Do not add ORS to milk, soup, fruit juice or soft drinks. Do not add sugar.
  3. Stir well, and feed it to the child from a clean cup. Do not use a bottle.
How much ORS drink to give?

Encourage the child to drink as much as possible.

A child under the age of two needs at least a quarter to a half of a large cup of the ORS drink after each watery stool.

A child aged two or older needs at least a half to a whole large cup of the ORS drink after each watery stool.

Diarrhoea usually stops in three or four days.
If it does not stop after one week, consult a trained health worker.
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