After Rehydration: What Happens to the Child?

Three-hundred infants and toddlers with diarrhoea were followed up for 5 days after initial rehydration with oral rehydration solution (ORS). When an average of 300–340 ml per day was given at home (520 ml if the diarrhoea was watery), only two children required re-hospitalization; one other child died whose voluminous losses should not have been treated at home. Fifteen per cent of the children still had watery diarrhoea and vomiting by the fifth day, perhaps as a result of multiple drug therapy. Continued feeding, especially breast milk and cereal grains, should reduce the duration of diarrhoea and vomiting (and perhaps the number of drugs). The amount of time a mother can spend giving ORS ultimately limits the amount a child receives.