Oral fluid; a simple weapon against dehydration in diarrhoea. How it works and how to use it

Oral rehydration therapy provides an effective weapon in the fight against acute diarrhoeal diseases, including cholera. Recently, this method of treatment has been used in various situations and remarkable results in terms of controlling the severity of diarrhoea and mortality due to acute diarrhoea were obtained. WHO has already published a guide on the subject for the use of medical assistants and other primary health workers. The article discusses why acute diarrhoea is a problem, explains the physiological basis of oral therapy, and describes the treatment and its limitations.