DIARRHEA TREATMENT

GUIDELINES

DIARRHEA
Passage of three or
more loose or
liquid stools per day,
more frequently
than is normal for
the individual

KEY FACTS
Diarrheal disease is the second leading cause of death
in children under five years old. It is both preventable
and treatable.
Each year diarrhea kills around 760 000 children under
five.
A significant proportion of diarrheal disease can be
prevented through safe drinking-water and adequate
sanitation and hygiene.
Globally, there are nearly 1.7 billion cases of diarrheal
disease every year.
Diarrhea is a leading cause of malnutrition in children
under five years old.

DANGERS OF DIARRHEA
DEATH
MALNUTRITION

IMPORTANT PARTS OF TREATMENT OF

DIARRHEA
Prevent dehydration from occurring if possible

Treat dehydration quickly if it does occur

Give zinc supplements

Feed the child

PREVENTION OF DEHYDRATION
prevented by drinking more fluids as soon as the
diarrhea starts

recommended home fluids; available food-based

fluids, such as gruel, soup or rice-water

increase the frequency of breastfeeding, or give

milk feeds prepared with twice the usual amount
of water

TREATMENT OF DEHYDRATION

If dehydration occurs,
the child should be
brought to a community
health worker or health
center for treatment

best treatment for

dehydration is oral
therapy with a solution
made with ORS

ZINC SUPPLEMENTATION
reduce the duration and
severity of the episode,
and lower the incidence
of diarrhea in the
following 23 months

FEEDING
child should be offered
small amounts of nutritious,
easily digestible food
frequently

If breastfed, try to increase

the frequency and duration
of feeds

After the diarrhea has

stopped, an extra meal each
day for a week will help the
child regain weight loss
during the illness

OTHER TREATMENTS
ANTIBIOTICS
not effective against most diarrhea-causing organisms
may increase resistance of some disease-causing organisms to
antibiotics

ADSORBENTS
not useful for treatment of acute diarrhea
induce only a slight change in stool consistency, however they do not
reduce fluid and salt losses

ANTIMOTILITY
may be harmful, especially in children less than 5 years of age
temporarily reduce cramps and pain but delay elimination of organisms
causing the diarrhea and may prolong the illness

HOME-MADE ORS

STEPS IN TREATING DIARRHEA

STEPS IN TREATING DIARRHEA

STEPS IN TREATING DIARRHEA