The management of acute diarrhea in children: an overview.

Abstract

Diarrhea is a principal cause of death in infants and children of developing nations [1]. If we estimate that two hundred million children under the age of two suffer 1–2 serious episodes of diarrhea a year, 10–20% of which cause clinically apparent dehydration, we conclude that approximately 50 million cases of diarrhea require fluid therapy annually. Obviously existing resources allow for treatment of only a small percentage of these children; but it is necessary that those resources of personnel, materials and time be strictly husbanded.