Oral rehydration therapy; an American perspective
Avery, M.E.; Snyder, J.
Dialogue on diarrhoea 1987(29): 5
1987
ISSN/ISBN: 0950-0235 PMID: 12341644 Document Number: 289851
Teaching oral rehydration of children with clinical dehydration in an outpatient clinic has proved educational for parents, medical students and house staff at the Children's Hospital, Boston. The teaching program following the WHO/UNICEF guidelines emphasizes "hands-on" practice by parents. Oral rehydration is safer than intravenous therapy; it avoids hospitalization; it is clearly more effective than the traditional advice to give readily available "clear fluids." The old view is that intravenous rehydration is always preferable; actually intravenous fluids are superior in life threatening situations, such as shock, severe burns or suspected sepsis. In the U.S., 7 brands of oral rehydration solutions in drink form are available in supermarkets. Most of these are lower in sodium, 50-70 mEq/1, than the WHO formulae. Dry packets are also available over the counter, less expensive than the drinks, but probably less popular. It is not known how often or how effectively these products are used, particularly by the poor.