A study of oral rehydration therapy in childhood diarrhea.

Abstract

Utility of oral rehydration therapy was studied in 877 cases of diarrhea. Most of the cases with mild degree of dehydration could be managed with oral rehydration fluid. The maintenance requirements of cases with moderate, and severe dehydration could be met with oral rehydration fluid alone. The incidence of abdominal distension, venesection and thromobophlebitis was less in cases who could be given oral glucose-electrolyte solution early in the course of the disease. In addition, oral rehydration was found to be useful in the supportive fluid therapy of cases with encephalitis, meningitis and pyrexia of unknown origin. The oral rehydration therapy was cheap, easy to administer, and did not required constant monitoring by skilled personnel.