Acute Diarrhoeal Diseases - Clinical Features and Management

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Slide 20 - The benefits of oral rehydration in the hospital setting are the elimination of the risks associated with intravenous fluid therapy and a considerable reduction in the quantity of such fluids used.

The benefits of oral rehydration in the hospital setting are the elimination of the risks associated with intravenous fluid therapy and a considerable reduction in the quantity of such fluids used. This bar graph shows the dramatic reduction in the use of intravenous fluids in a hospital in Jamaica after oral therapy was introduced: of the total number of children treated for gastroenteritis, the number receiving intravenous fluids declined from 55% to 4%. This represents a significant saving in costs - both of fluids and equipment, and of skilled staff time.

Rehydration Project

Slide set created by WHO

updated: 4 July, 2014