Efficacy of oral rehydration therapy in dehydrating diarrhoea of children
Ali, M.; Dutta, K.; Chatterjee, R.; Ghosh, S.; Biswas, R.
Journal of the Indian Medical Association 101(6): 352 354 356 Passim
2003
ISSN/ISBN: 0019-5847 PMID: 14579981 Document Number: 251212
Establishment of diarrhoea treatment and training units (DTTUs) in all major health facilities for promotion of appropriate oral rehydration therapy (ORT) is an important strategy to control diarrhoeal diseases (CDD) in children in India. 225 children with diarrhoea (acute watery diarrhoea, 79.5%; persistent diarrhoea, 10.7%; and dysentery, 9.8%) who were treated at the DTTU, Department of Paediatric Medicine, RG Kar Medical College, Calcutta, West Bengal, during August 1994-July 1995, were included in the study. Univariate analysis of mortality revealed that case fatality rate (CFR) due to diarrhoea was much higher among children treated with parenteral fluid therapy with or without drugs (20.6 and 20.9%, respectively), than those treated with only oral rehydration solution (ORS; 0.75%). Certain child care practices, like immunization, breastfeeding and use of ORS at home also favourably influenced survival of children suffering from diarrhoea. The CFR of diarrhoea cases did not depend on the type of diarrhoea or nutritional status of the child. Thus, promotion of correct practice of ORT merits attention through all possible means.