Replacement of intravenous therapy by oral rehydration solution in a large treatment centre for diarrhoea with dehydration

摘要

Intravenous fluid therapy is particularly effective in reversing severe dehydration due to diarrhoea, but it can be replaced by oral rehydration, with the advantages of lower risks and costs, in the treatment of mild, moderate and some severe cases of dehydration. In this study, the efficacy of oral rehydration solution was compared with that of intravenous fluid in the treatment of moderate and some severe cases of dehydration due to diarrhoea in a treatment centre in Bangladesh during a period of 5 months in 1980 and the same months in 1981. The results of this study show that rehydration by oral rehydration solution (ORS) is as effective as intravenous fluid therapy. ORS can be used for the treatment of diarrhoeas in all age groups including young infants. The costs were reduced by 33% despite an increase in the duration of stay of some patients.