I he management

and prevention of
diarrhoea
Practical guidelines

Third edition

World Health Organization

Geneva
1993
 First editlon, 1985
Reprinted 1985, 1986
Second edition, 1989
Third edition, 1993

This book is also available in French and Span~shfrom WHO or from the usual sales agents. Any part of
the book may be copied or translated into other languages for non-profit-making purposes without prior
permission from the World Health Organization, provided that two voucher copies of such translations are
sent to the Organization. The Organization accepts no responsibility for the accuracy of any such
translations. If a translation of the entire work is envisaged, enquiry should be made to the Office of
Publications, World Health Organization, 1211 Geneva 27, Switzerland, to ensure that such a translation is
not already available.

WHO welcomes comments on this guide and informat~onon experience in its use; these should be
addressed to:

Programme for Control of Diarrhoea1 Diseases

World Health Organization
1211 Geneva 27
Switzerland.

WHO Library Cataloguing in Publication Data

The Management and prevention of diarrhoea : practical guidelines.-3rd ed.

1.Allied health personnel-education 2.Diarrhea-in infancy & childhood 3.Diarrhea-prevention

& control 4.Diarrhea-therapy 5.Fluid therapy

ISBN 92 4 154454 6 (NLM Classification: WS 312)

The World Health Organization welcomes requests for permission to reproduce or translate its publi-
cations, in part or in full. Applications and enquiries should be addressed to the Office of Publications.
World Health Organization, 1211 Geneva 27, Switzerland, which will be giad to provide the latest
information on any changes made to the text, plans for new editions, and reprints and translations already
available.

0 World Health Organization 1993

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Typeset in lndla
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Contents

Foreword v

1. Understanding the problem

What is diarrhoea?
Acute and persistent diarrhoea
Why is diarrhoea dangerous?
How does diarrhoea cause dehydration?
Treating a child who has diarrhoea
ESSENTIAL SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE: SECTION 1

2. Home treatment of a child who has diarrhoea 5

Educating family members about home treatment of a child who has
diarrhoea 5
Three rules for home treatment of a child who has d~arrhoea 6
ESSENTIAL SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE: SECTION 2 8

3. Assessment by a health worker for dehydration, and selection

of a treatment plan 9
Identifying a case of diarrhoea 9
Assessing the child for signs of dehydration 9
Deciding which treatment plan to use 10
ESSENTIAL SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE: SECTION 3 11
Example of assessment 12

4. Checking for other problems

ESSENTIAL SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE: SECTION 4
Example of assessment

5. Treatment by a health worker of a child who is dehydrated 16

Ingredients of oral rehydration salts 16
Preparing ORS solution 16
Using the appropriate treatment plan 17
Recording data on the child 22
ESSENTIAL SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE: SECTION 5 22

6. Treatment of other problems

Dysentery
Cholera
ESSENTIAL SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE: SECTION 6

7. Prevention of diarrhoea
Breast-feeding
M A N A G E M E N T A N D PREVENTION O F DIARRHOEA

Improved weaning practices 26

Use of plenty of water for hygiene and clean water for drinking 26
Hand-washing 27
Use of latrines 27
Proper disposal of the stools of young children 27
Immunization against measles 28
What health workers can do to support preventive practices 28
ESSENTIAL SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE: SECTION 7 30

8. Things to remember about the management and prevention of

diarrhoea 31

Annexes
1 . Diarrhoea management chart 32

2. How to treat diarrhoea at home (mother's card) 38

3. How to determine whether a child is malnourished by using

arm circumference 39

4. What a health worker should do when packets of oral rehydration salts

are not available 40

5. Intravenous therapy for severe dehydration 42

6. Appropriate use of drugs for cholera, dysentery, and parasitic diarrhoea 45

7. Check-list of essential skills and knowledge 50

Foreword

This book is intended for health workers who are concerned with the management and
prevention of diarrhoea, and for their supervisors and trainers. It is a revised and
updated version of The treatment and prevention of acute diarrhoea. Practical
guidelines (second edition, Geneva, World Health Organization, 1989). The guidelines
are based on the chart Management of the patient with diarrhoea (segments of which
are reproduced in Annex l ) , and form the technical basis of the module entitled
Management of the patient with diarrhoea (1992) in the Supervisory skills training
course of the WHO Programme for Control of Diarrhoeal Diseases.'

The book is divided into eight sections. Each of the first seven sections is followed by a
list of points of essential skills and knowledge required by health workers for the
management and prevention of acute diarrhoea. All 17 points of essential skills and
knowledge are summarized in Annex 7. The segments of the chart Management of the
patient with diarrhoea given in Annex 1 summarize the approach to management of
diarrhoea explained in this book (and are referred to collectively as the "diarrhoea
management chart" throughout the remainder of the book). The chart may be
adapted to local conditions and should be available to health workers for reference at
all times.

Although this book refers mainly to diarrhoea in children, its recommendations apply
equally to adults.

' Both the Supervisory skills training course and the separate module Management of the patient with
diarrhoea are ava~lableon request from the Programme for Control of Diarrhoeal Diseases, World Health
Organization, 121 1 Geneva 27, Switzerland.
SECTION 1
Understanding the problem

What is diarrhoea?
The number of stools normally passed in a day varies with an individual's diet and age.
When there is diarrhoea, stools contain more water than usual-they are often called
loose or watery stools. They may also contain visible blood, in which case the illness is
called dysentery.

Mothers usually know when their children have diarrhoea. When diarrhoea occurs,
mothers may say that the stools smell strong or pass noisily, as well as being loose and
watery. Talking to mothers often reveals one or more useful local definitions of
diarrhoea. For practical purposes, diarrhoea is defined as three or more loose or
watery stools in a day (24 hours).

Diarrhoea is most common in children, especially those between 6 months and 2 years
of age. It is also common in babies under the age of 6 months who are drinking cow's
milk or infant feeding formulas.

Frequent passing of normal stools is not diarrhoea

Babies who are taking only breast milk commonly have frequent soft stools; this is not
diarrhoea.

Acute and persistent diarrhoea

Diarrhoea is classified as acute or persistent according to its duration. An episode of
diarrhoea that lasts less than 2 weeks is acute diarrhoea; diarrhoea that lasts 2 weeks
or longer is persistent.

Why is diarrhoea dangerous?

The two main dangers of diarrhoea are death and malnutrition.

Death from acute diarrhoea is most often caused by loss of a large amount of water
and salt from the body. This loss is called dehydration. Another important cause of
death is dysentery. Death from dysentery is caused by damage to the intestine,
systemic infection, and malnutrition.

Severe diarrhoea with complications is most common in people with malnutrition.

Diarrhoea can also cause malnutrition and make existing malnutrition worse because:

a nutrients are lost from the body

a nutrients are used to repair damaged tissue rather than for growth
MANAGEMENT AND PREVENTION OF DIARRHOEA

a a person with diarrhoea may not be hungry

a mothers may not feed children normally while they have diarrhoea, or even for some
days after the diarrhoea is better.

To prevent malnutrition, children with diarrhoea should be given food as soon as they
will eat, and should be given extra food after diarrhoea stops.

How does diarrhoea cause dehydration?

The body normally takes in the water and salt it needs (input) through drinks and food.
It normally loses water and salt (output) through stools, urine, sweat, and breathing.

When the bowel is healthy, water and salt pass from the bowel into the blood. When
there is diarrhoea, the bowel does not work normally. Less water and salt pass into the
blood, and more pass from the blood into the bowel. Thus, the amounts of water and
salt passed in the stools are greater than normal.

This larger than normal loss of water and salt from the body can result in dehydration.
Dehydration occurs when the output of water and salt is greater than the input. The
more diarrhoea1 stools a person passes, the more water and salt he or she loses.
Repeated vomiting, which often accompanies diarrhoea, can also contribute to
dehydration.

Dehydration occurs faster in infants and young children, in hot, dry climates, and when
there is fever.

Treating a child who has diarrhoea

The most important parts of treatment of diarrhoea are:

a to prevent dehydration from occurring, if possible

a to treat dehydration quickly if it does occur
a to feed the child.

Treat at home with

fluids and food 7
\
Child improves

Chlld gets worse and

becomes dehydrated
Diarrhoea Health worker treats
starts with ORS solution
(or IV fluids if necessary)

Prevention of dehydration
Dehydration can usually be prevented in the home if the child drinks extra fluids as
soon as the diarrhoea starts. A child should be given one of the fluids recommended
 UNDERSTANDING THE PROBLEM

locally for home treatment of diarrhoea. These include: oral rehydration salts (ORS)
I
solution, food-based fluids (such as soup, rice water, and yoghurt drinks), and plain
water. If possible, food-based fluids should contain a small amount of salt. ORS
solution can be used for both prevention and treatment of dehydration, and should
also be given in the circumstances described in Treatment Plan A (see Annex 1,
Diarrhoea management chart). If the child is under 6 months old and is not yet taking
solid food, ORS solution or water should be given rather than a food-based fluid.

Treatment of dehydration
If dehydration occurs, the child should be taken to a community health worker or
health centre for treatment. The best treatment for dehydration is oral therapy with a
solution made with ORS. ORS solution can be used alone to rehydrate 95% or more of
patients with dehydration. Patients with severe dehydration require rehydration with
intravenous (IV) fluids at first, but should be given ORS solution in addition to IV fluids
as soon as they can drink. ORS solution should be used alone when the signs of severe
dehydration are gone.

Feeding
Feeding during diarrhoea provides nutrients the child needs to grow and be strong,
and prevents weight loss. Fluids given to prevent or treat dehydration, such as the
recommended home fluid or ORS solution, do not provide the required nutrients;
frequent feeding with adequate amounts of nutritious food is essential.

Breast-fed children should be offered the breast frequently. Other children should
receive their usual milk. Children of 6 months or older (or infants who are already
taking solid food) should frequently be offered small amounts of nutritious, easily
digestible food. After the diarrhoea has stopped, an extra meal should be given each
day for 2 weeks to help children regain weight lost during the illness.

Other treatments
There are no drugs available at present that will safely and effectively help to stop
diarrhoea.

Antibiotics are not effective against most organisms that cause diarrhoea. They rarely
help and can make some people sicker in the long term. Their indiscriminate use
increases the resistance to antibiotics of many disease-causing organisms. In addition,
antibiotics are costly, so money is wasted. Antibiotics should therefore not be used
routinely. Their appropriate use for dysentery and cholera is described in Section 6 and
in Annex 6.

Antidiarrhoeal drugs and antiemetics should never be given to children and infants.
These include adsorbents (such as kaolin, attapulgite, and activated charcoal),
antimotility drugs (such as codeine, tincture of opium, diphenoxylate, and loperamide),
and drugs to treat vomiting (such as chlorpromazine and promethazine). None has
proven value in treating diarrhoea and some can be dangerous. Some of these drugs
1 MANAGEMENT AND PREVENTION OF DIARRHOEA

can cause paralysis of the gut or make children abnormally sleepy, and some can be
fatal, especially in infants, if used improperly.

ESSENTIAL SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE: SECTION 1

The health worker should be able to:

define diarrhoea and dysentery in a way that is appropriate to his or her work
setting
distinguish between acute and persistent diarrhoea
explain why diarrhoea and dysentery are dangerous
explain how diarrhoea causes dehydration
describe the most important parts of the treatment of diarrhoea and dysentery.
SECTION 2
Home treatment of a child who has
diarrhoea

Educating family members about home treatment

of a child who has diarrhoea
Mothers and other family members can often treat children who have diarrhoea with
fluids and foods that they have at home. Health workers can help by showing mothers
how to do this.

There are three rules for treating diarrhoea in the home. Whenever a child gets
diarrhoea, the mother (or any other family members who care for the child) should
follow these rules. Briefly, the rules are:

increase fluids
give the child plenty of food
take the child to a health worker if he or she is not getting better.

These rules are explained below. They are also given in Treatment Plan A (see
Annex l ) and in Annex 2.

Mothers whose children are sick with diarrhoea will be particularly interested in
learning about home treatment. When teaching them about home treatment of
diarrhoea:

Select an appropriate time. For example, the mother of a child who has diarrhoea
should be taught how to treatdiarrhoea at home; information about prevention can
be given at another time, when the child is healthy.
Remember the community's beliefs about diarrhoea and ways of treating it. Relate
your advice to current practices, and use words the mother will understand.
Show the mother what to do (for example, show her how much fluid to give the child
after each stool).
Use teaching aids that are familiar (for example, use common containers to
demonstrate how to mix ORS).
Let the mother practise what she is learning while you watch. (For example, let her
give the fluid with a spoon while you watch.) This will help the mother to remember
what she has learned. It will also let you see whether she has learned correctly, so
that you can provide extra help if necessary.
Ask the mother to tell you, in her own words, things that she has learned but not
practised, to be sure that she remembers. (For example, she can tell you what food
she will give and how often.)
Ask the mother whether she has any questions, and try to answer them.
Ask her whether she has any problems in following your instructions. Listen to what
she says and try to help her find a solution to the problems.
Tell the mother what to expect (for example, how long it will take for her child to
get well).
MANAGEMENT AND PREVENTION O F DIARRHOEA

Three rules for home treatment of a child who has diarrhoea

RULE 1: GlVE THE CHILD MORE FLUIDS THAN USUAL

What fluids?

Give recommended home fluids, which may be ORS solution, food-based fluids (such
as soup, rice water, and yoghurt drinks) and plain water. If the child is under 6 months
old and is not yet taking solid food, give ORS solution or water, rather than a food-
based fluid.

How much fluid?

Give more fluids than usual, as soon as the diarrhoea starts

Give children under 2 years old approximately 50-100 ml (1/4-1/2 large cup) of fluid
after each loose stool.

Give children aged between 2 and 10 years 100-200 ml (112-1 large cup) after each
loose stool. Older children and adults should drink as much as they want.

RULE 2: GlVE THE CHILD PLENTY OF FOOD

What foods?

Breast milk is the best food for young babies. Continue to breast-feed frequently. If the
child is not breast-fed, give the usual milk.

If the child is 6 months or older, or is already taking solid food, give cereal or another
starchy food mixed, if possible, with pulses, vegetables, and meat or fish. Add 1 or 2
teaspoonfuls of vegetable oil to each serving to make it more energy-rich. Red palm oil
is especially good because it contains a large amount of provitamin A. Fresh fruit
juices and bananas are helpful because they contain potassium. (Sweetened fruit
drinks are not suitable and may make diarrhoea worse.)

Avoid:

a high-fibre or bulky foods, such as coarse fruits and vegetables, fruit and vegetable
peels, and whole grain cereals-these are hard to digest
foods and drinks with a lot of sugar-these foods can make diarrhoea worse.

How much food?

Encourage the child to eat. Offer food every 3 or 4 hours (at least 6 times each day).
Small, frequent feeds are best because they are more easily taken and digested by the
child.

After the diarrhoea has stopped, continue to give the child one extra meal each day.
Most children need this extra meal for about 2 weeks. Children who have had
persistent diarrhoea should be given an extra meal each day for at least a month.
Malnourished children will continue to need extra food until they reach a normal
weight for their height.
 H O M E TREATMENT OF A CHILD W H O HAS DIARRHOEA I

How to prepare the food

Prepare foods by cooking well, fermenting, mashing, or grinding. This will make the
foods easier to digest.

Give freshly prepared foods to minimize the chance of contamination. If previously

prepared foods must be offered, first reheat them until they are thoroughly hot.

Water used for preparing drinks should be boiled.

Why feed the child?

Withholding food from a child who has diarrhoea can cause malnutrition or make
existing malnutrition worse. Mothers may withhold food, or be advised to withhold
food, in the belief that this will decrease the diarrhoea. However, food does not make
diarrhoea worse. It gives the child the nutrients he or she needs to stay strong and to
grow. A strong child will resist illness better.

Although absorption of nutrients from food IS lessened somewhat during diarrhoea,

most of the nutrients will be absorbed. Fluids given to the child for prevention or
treatment of dehydration do not contain enough energy to fulfil the need for food.

RULE 3: TAKE THE CHILD TO THE HEALTH WORKER IF HE OR SHE IS NOT GETTING
BETTER

Take the child to a health worker if the child does not get better in 3 days or develops
any of the following:

m many watery stools

m repeated vomiting
m marked thirst
m eating or drinking poorly
MANAGEMENT AND PREVENTION OF DIARRHOEA

fever
blood in the stool.

ESSENTIAL SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE: SECTION 2

The health worker should be able to explain to family members the three rules for
home treatment of diarrhoea. These are: to give more fluids than usual; to give
plenty of food; and to take a child to the health worker if he or she is not getting
better.
SECTION 3
Assessment by a health worker for
dehydration, and selection of atreatment plan

Identifying a case of diarrhoea

When a mother brings a child with diarrhoea to a health worker, she will usually
mention the diarrhoea when describing the child's problems. However, the health
worker should always ask whether there is diarrhoea, especially when a child has an
illness that is often accompanied by diarrhoea, such as measles, pneumonia, or severe
malnutrition.

The health worker should therefore ask both of the followirig questions:

Has the child had loose or watery stools?

Have there been loose stools with blood?

If the answer to either question is YES, the health worker should use the diarrhoea
management chart to assess and treat the child. The first step is to assess the child for
signs of dehydration.

Assessing the child for signs of dehydration

The signs that the health worker should look and feel for are listed here, in the table
Assess yourpatient for dehydration (page 10),and in Annex 'l. Refer to the table as you
read this section.

Look for the following

What is the child's general condition? Is the child:

- well and alert?
- restless or irritable?
- lethargic (abnormally sleepy), floppy, or unconscious')
Are the child's eyes normal, sunken, or very sunken and dry?
Does the child have tears when he or she cries?
e Are the child's mouth and tongue wet, dry, or very dry?
When offered a drink, does the child:
- drink normally or seem not thirsty?

- drink eagerly and seem thirsty?

- drink poorly or seem unable to drink?

Feel for the following

When the skin of the abdomen is pinched, does it go back quickly, slowly, or very
slowly (longer than 2 seconds)?
 ASSESSMENT FOR DEHYDRATION

Select the approprlate treatment plan based on the degree of dehydration. These
I
treatment plans are described on the diarrhoea management chart (Annex 1).

For severe dehydration, select Treatment Plan C- To treat severe dehydratlon

quickly. We~ghthe patient so that you can determine the approprlate amount of
Intravenous (IV) fluld to glve.

For some dehydration, select Treatment Plan B- To treat dehydratlon. Welgh the
patient, if possible, but do not delay treatment if there are no scales available

For no signs of dehydration, select Treatment Plan A- To treat diarrhoea at home.

An example of how a health worker has selected the appropr~atetreatment plan for a
child Wth diarrhoea is given On page 12.

ESSENTIAL SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE: SECTION 3

Using the table Assess your patlent for dehydratlon, the health worker should be
able to:

0 look and feel for signs of dehydration

c select the approprlate treatment plan.
I
MANAGEMENT AND PREVENTION O F DIARRHOEA

Example of assessment
A mother took her 4-month-old son, Tomi, to a health worker because he had
diarrhoea for several days and was not getting better. The health worker looked and
felt for signs of dehydration. The health worker's findings are circled on the table
Assess your patient for dehydration below.

Tomi had no signs in Column C, so he was not severely dehydrated. Two signs are
circled in Column B, sunken eyes and thirsty. Since these two signs included one key
sign, the health worker concluded that Tomi had some dehydration and needed
Treatment Plan B.

FIRST, ASSESS YOUR PATIENT FOR DEHYDRATION

A B C
P

1. LOOK AT CONDITION t Restless, irritable * * Lethargic or unconscious;

floppy*

EYES Normal Very sunken and dry

TEARS Absent Absent

MOUTH and TONGUE Very dry

THIRST Drlnks normally,

not thlrsty not able to drink*

2. FEEL. SKIN PINCH * Goes back slowly * Goes back very slowly *

If the patlent has two or more if the patlent has two o; more
3. DECIDE The patient has NO signs Including at least one signs, including at least one
SIGNS OF DEHYDRATION 'sign ,' there IS SOME sign *, there is SEVERE
DEHYDRATION DEHYDRATION

4. TREAT Use Treatment Plan A Weigh the patient, if possible. Weigh the patient and use
and use Treatment Plan B Treatment Plan C URGENTLY
SECTION 4
Checking for other problems

In addition to assessing for dehydration, the health worker should ask about and look
for signs of other problems, such as dysentery or severe malnutrition. The section of
the diarrhoea management chart entitled Then, for otherproblems, shown on page 14
and in Annex 1, shows what to ask about and look for, and how to treat or refer any
problems discovered.

Ask about the following:

Blood in the stool. This will tell you whether the patient has dysentery, which requires
treatment with an antibiotic as described in Annex 6.

Duration of diarrhoea. If the patient's diarrhoea has lasted for 14 days or more, it is
persistent diarrhoea and should be treated as shown on the chart.

Look for the following:

Signs of severe malnutrition. If a child appears very wasted, like "skin and bones", he
or she has severe marasmus. If there is generalized swelling of the body and thin,
sparse hair, the child has kwashiorkor. Children with either of these types of severe
malnutrition should be referred for nutritional management.

Generally, you will be able to tell whether a child is severely malnourished just by
looking for the above signs. However, if you are unsure, you can also measure the
circumference of the child's upper arm to determine the degree of malnutrition, as
described in Annex 3.

Ask about fever and take temperature:

Ask the mother whether the child has had a fever (felt abnormally hot) at any time in
the past 5 days. If fever is present, it is important to know the age of the child. If the child
is under 2 months of age, the treatment of fever is different from that for a child of 2
months or more (see the diarrhoea management chart).

1 ESSENTIAL SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE: SECTION 4

The health worker should be able to check for problems other than dehydration
(for example, dysentery, persistent diarrhoea, severe malnutrition).
I
MANAGEMENT AND PREVENTION OF DIARRHOEA

THEN, FOR OTHER PROBLEMS

ASK ABOUT BLOOD IN IF BLOOD IS PRESENT:
THE STOOL
Treat for 5 days with an oral antibiotic recommended for
Shigella in your area.
Teach the mother to feed the child as described in Plan A.
See the child again after 2 days if:
- under l year of age
- initially dehydrated
- there is still blood in the stool
- not getting better
If the stool is still bloody after 2 days, change to a second
oral antibiotic recommended for Shigella in your area.
Give it for 5 days.

ASK WHEN THIS EPISODE OF IF DIARRHOEA HAS LASTED AT LEAST 14 DAYS:

DIARRHOEA BEGAN
Refer to hospital if:
- the child is under 6 months old
- dehydration is present. (Refer the child after
treatment of dehydration.)
Otherwise, teach the mother to feed her child as in Plan A,
except:
- give only half the usual amount of milk, or replace milk
with a fermented milk product, such as yoghurt.
- assure full energy intake by giving 6 meals a day of
thick cereal and added oil, mixed with vegetables,
pulses, meat, or fish.
Tell the mother to bring the child back after 5 days:
- if diarrhoea has not stopped, refer to hospital.
- if diarrhoea has stopped, tell the mother to:
- use the same foods for the child's regular diet.
- after 1 more week, gradually resume the usual
animal milk.
- give an extra meal each day for at least 1 month.

LOOK FOR SEVERE IF THE CHILD HAS SEVERE MALNUTRITION:

MALNUTRITION Do not attempt rehydration; refer to hospital for management.
Provide the mother with ORS solution and show her how to
glve 5 ml/kg/hr dur~ngthe tr~p.

ASK ABOUT FEVER AND IF THE CHILD IS UNDER 2 MONTHS OF AGE:

TAKE TEMPERATURE Rehydrate as necessary. If there is fever (38"C or above)
after rehydration, refer to hospital. Do not give paracetamol
or an antimalarial.

IF THE CHILD IS 2 MONTHS OF AGE OR OLDER:

If temperature is 39°C or above, give paracetamol.
If there is falciparum malaria in the area, and the child has
any fever (38"C or above) or history of fever in the past 5
days, give an antimalarial (or manage according to your
malaria programme recommendation).
 CHECKING FOR OTHER PROBLEMS I
Example of assessment
A mother took her 3-year-old daughter, Rania, to a clinic because she had diarrhoea.
The clinic worker looked and felt for signs of dehydration. The clinic worker's findings
are circled on the table Assess your patient for dehydration below.

Since Rania had no signs from Column C and only one sign from Column B, the clinic
worker decided that she had no signs of dehydration. He selected Treatment Plan A to
prevent Rania from becoming dehydrated.

The clinic worker also asked about and looked for symptoms and signs of other
problems. He found that Rania had blood in her stool and that the diarrhoea had
started about 5 days earlier. Rania appeared to be well nourished. She had a slight
fever (38°C).

Because Rania had blood in her stool, the clinic worker diagnosed dysentery and gave
the mother an appropriate antibiotic for the child. (This was trimethoprim-sulfa-
methoxazole, to which most shigellae in the area were known to be sensitive.) Since
there was no known malaria in the area, Rania was not given an antimalarial for her
fever. The clinic worker assumed that the fever was caused by the dysentery since no
other cause was apparent.

FIRST, ASSESS YOUR PATIENT FOR DEHYDRATION

EYES Sunken II Very sunken arnl dry

I
TEARS Absent

Dry
Il
11
Absent
Very dry
II
Rllraty, drlnka crgcrly
I 9 Drlnka poorly or
nol able to drlnk. I
2 FEEL SKIN PINCH .
G m bask slowly. I (. back vwy .lorrfy +
~oea I
3 DECIDE
II The patient has NO
SIGNS OF DEHYDRATION
l DEHYDRATION
algn *, me.0 1s SEVERE

Usa Treatment Plan A

and use Treatment Plan B
I
Wagh me patient, d ~ossibb. WWthe pabent and use
Treahern man C URGENTLY
SECTION 5
Treatment by a health worker of a child
who is dehydrated

Dehydration is treated with a solution of oral rehydration salts (ORS). All health
workers should know how to prepare ORS solution from water and ORS.

Ingredients of oral rehydration salts

Oral rehydration salts often come in packets containing the following ingredients:

Ingredient Amount
(in grams)

Glucose (a form of sugar) 20

Sodium chloride (common salt) 3.5
Trisodium citrate dihydrate 2.9
or sodium bicarbonate (baking soda) 2.5
Potassium chloride 1.5

Packets generally contain these ingredients in the correct amounts for mixing with
1 litre of drinking-water.

Note: Some packets of ORS are made for smaller volumes of water; they contain
smaller amounts of the same ingredients. It is critical that the correct amount of
water is used to mix with any packet. If too little water is used, the solution will be
too strong and may be dangerous. If too much water is used, the solution will be
too dilute and may not be as effective.

When ORS packets are not available, an oral rehydration fluid can be made by
following the instructions given in Annex 4.

Preparing ORS solution

Wash your hands with soap and water.

Pour all the powder from one packet

of ORS into a clean container. Use
p ;
..-..
....

.. :...
....
...
..
.....
..:
..,..
...

whatever container is available such

as a jar, bowl or bottle.
Measure 1 litre of clean water (or the
TREATMENT OF A CHILD WHO IS DEHYDRATED I
correct amount for the packet used). It -
is best to boil and cool the water be-
fore use, but if this is not possible, use 1 LITE
OC
the cleanest drinking-water available. WATER

-
Pour the water into the container. Mix
well with a clean spoon until the
powder is completely dissolved.

Taste the solution so that you know

what it tastes like.

Mix fresh ORS solution each day in a clean container. Keep the container covered. The
solution can be kept and used for one day (24 hours). Throw away any solution
remaining from the day before.

Using the appropriate treatment plan

Having assessed the degree of dehydration of the child, the health worker should have
selected one of the following treatment plans:

Treatment Plan C - To treat severe dehydration quickly

(see also Annex 5)
Treatment Plan B - To treat dehydration
Treatment Plan A - To treat diarrhoea at home

Some health workers may not have the skills or the necessary supplies to perform all
the steps listed in Treatment Plans B and C. A supervisor or trainer must determine
which procedures can be performed by a health worker in a community setting, and
which can only be performed by a health worker in a health facility. The supervisor or
trainer must then give each type of health worker the training and supplies needed to
carry out the treatment correctly.

The health worker will then follow the treatment plan selected. He or she may also need
to treat any other problems that have been identified. In all cases, the health worker
should first compliment the mother on bringing her child for care.

Many mothers will expect to be given a medicine to stop the diarrhoea. However, it is
dehydration that is the main cause of death. It is necessary to take time to explain to
the mother that it is most important to replace the lost fluids, and to continue feeding
the child. Explain that antidiarrhoeal drugs do not stop the diarrhoea and are useless;
I
MANAGEMENT AND PREVENTION OF DIARRHOEA

some are dangerous. Expla~nthat ORS w ~ l not

l stop the d~arrhoea,but that It w ~ l help
l
keep the chlld strong u n t ~the
l d~arrhoeagoes away In a few days

In cases of dysentery, and suspected cholera w ~ t hsevere dehydratlon, treatment with

a n t ~ b ~ o t ~ISc snecessary (see Annex 6) In all other eases of d~arrhoea,however,
ant~b~otlcs w ~ l not
l help: d~arrhoeaw ~ l stop
l w~thoutspec~altreatment

Before golng home, all mothers should be taught the three rules for home treatment of
d~arrhoea(glven on pages 6-8 and In Treatment Plan A). Even ch~ldrenwho are
treated at a health facil~tyaccord~ngto Treatment Plan B or C, w ~ l lrequire home
treatment accord~ngto Plan A when the~rcond~ttonhas ~mproved.

Remember

All children wlth d~arrhoeawill be treated w ~ t hPlan A, Including both'

ch~ldrenwho have not developed slgns of dehydrat~on,and

ch~ldrenwho have already been treated for dehydrat~on,and have improved.

Remember that ~tIS Important to give ORS solut~onIn small amounts at a steady pace
(a teaspoonful every 1-2 mlnutes), and that, after recelvlng ORS solut~anfor 4 hours
(on Plan B), most children w ~ l Improve
l sufflc~entlyto be treated accord~ngto Plan A.

If a c h ~ l dbeg~nsto vom~twhlle belng glven ORS solut~on,w a ~ 10

t minutes then contlnue
glvlng the solut~on,but more slowly, a teaspoon every 2-3 mlnutes. Some chlldren may
want to d r ~ n ktoo qulckly. Thls may make them vomlt.
 TREATMENT PLAN A
TO TREAT DIARRHOEA AT HOME

1. GIVE THE CttlLD MORE FLUIDS THAN USUAL TO PREVENT DEHYDRATION:

Use remmmcsnded home flu~ds,These Include: QRS solution, food-based flu~ds
(such aa soup, rice water, and yoghurt drlnks) and plaln water. Use ORS solution for
children described In the box below, (Note: If the child IS under 6 months old and is
net yet taklng solid f a d , give ORS salutlon or water rather than a food-based fluid).
a Gtve as much sf these flulds as the chtld will lake Use the amounts shown below for
ORS as a gu~de,
Contlnue glvlng these flu~dsunt~lthe d~arrhoeastops

2, alve THE CHILD PLENTY QF FOOD TO PREVENT MALNUTRITION:

* Continue to breast-teedfrequently.
If the child is not breast-fed, glve the usual mllk
If the chlld IS 6 months or older, or already taklng sol~dfood.
- Also give cereal or another starchy food m~xed,d possible, wtth pulses,
vegetables, and meat or fish Add 1 or 2 teaspoonfuls of vegetable o ~to
l each

- Glve fresh frurt juice or mashed banana to provide potasslum.

= Glve freshly prepared foods. Cook and mash or grlnd toad well
= Encaurage the chlU to eat: offer food at least 6 tlmes a day
- Slve the same foods after d~arrhoeastops, and gtve an extra meal each day for

3. TAKE THE CHILD TO THE HEALTH WORKER IF THE CHlLD OOES NOT GET
BElTER IN 3 DAYS OR DEVELOPS ANY QF THE FOLLOWING:
* Many watery stools Eatlng or drlnktng poorly
Repeated vomltlng * Fever
Marked th~rst Blood ~nthe stool

r Thehay hew basn an Tm(nsent Plan R OP C

r They o a W rbtum ta rho health we& rJ the drsrrhoea gets wse
C It 6s nahenalpd~cy(g ~ I v eORS fc! a# oWm w h see 8 h l t h worker for

Descnbe and show the amount to be gtven after each stool using a local measure.

SHOW THE MOTHER HOW TO MIX ORS.

SHOW HER NOW TO OWE QRS:
Give a teaspoonful every 1-2 minutes for a child under 2 years.
Give frequent sips frsm a w p fw an older ch~ld
Ifthe chdd v m ~ t s wan
, 10 mlnutes, Then gtve the solution more slowly (for example,
a spa~ntule v q 2 5 mutes).
* If diarrhoea continues atte~the ORS packets are used up, tell the mother to give other
Ruids as descr~bedIn the flrst rule above or return for more ORS
I
MANAGEMENT AND PREVENTION OF DIARRHOEA

TREATMENT PLAN B
TO TREAT DEHYDRATION
APPROXIMATE AMOUNT OF ORS SOLUTION TO GlVE IN THE FIRST 4 HOURS:

Use the patient's age only when you do not know the weight. The approximate amount of ORS required
(In ml) can also be calculated by multiplying the patient's weight (in kg) times 75.
If the child wants more ORS than shown, gjve more.
Encourage the mother to continue breast-feeding.
For infants under 6 months who are not breast-fed, also give 100-200 ml clean
water during this period.

OBSERVE THE CHILD CAREFULLY AND HELP THE MOTHER GlVE ORS SOLUTION:
Show her how much solution to give her child.
Show her how to give it - a teaspoonful every 1-2 minutes for a child under 2 years,
frequent sips from a cup for an older child.
Check from time to time to see if there are problems.
If the child vomits, wait 10 minutes and then continue giving ORS, but more slowly,
for example, a spoonful every 2-3 minutes.
If the child's eyelids become puffy, stop ORS and give plain water or breast milk.
Give ORS according to Plan A when the puffiness is gone.

AFTER 4 HOURS, REASSESS THE CHILD USING THE ASSESSMENT CHART. THEN
SELECT PLAN A, B, OR C TO CONTINUE TREATMENT.
If there are no signs of dehydration, shift to Plan A. When dehydration has been
corrected, the child usually passes urine and may also be tired and fall asleep.
If signs indicating some dehydration are still present, repeat Plan B, but start to
offer food, milk and juice as described in Plan A.

If signs indicating severe dehydration have appeared, shift to Plan C.

r
IF THE MOTHER MUST LEAVE BEFORE COMPLETING TREATMENT PLAN B:
Show her how much ORS to give to finish the 4-hour treatment at home.

Give her enough ORS packets to complete rehydration, and for 2 more days as
shown in Plan A.

Show her how to prepare ORS solution.

Explain to her the three rules in Plan A for treating her child at home:
- to give ORS or other fluids until diarrhoea stops
- to feed the child
- to bring the child back to the health worker, if necessary.
 TREATMENT OF A CHILD WHO IS DEHYDRATED I
TREATMENT PLAN C
TO TREAT
SEVERE DEHYDRATlON QUICKLY
FOLLOW THE ARROWS. IF ANSWER IS "YES", GO ACROSS. IF "NO', G 0 DOWN

START HERE

IYES I, Start IV fluids immediately. If the patient can drink, glve

intravenous (IV) ORS by mouth while the drip is set up. Give 100 mVkg
flulds Immedlately? Ringer's Lactate Solution (or, if not available, normal
saline), divided as follows:

Age First give Then ghre

30 ml/kg in: 70 mlkg In:

Infants 1 hour 5 hours

(under 12 months)
Older 30 minutes 2 112 hours

Repeat once if radial pulse is still very weak or not Wedable.

Reassess the patient every 1-2 hours. If hydration is not

improving, give the IV drip more rapidly.
Also give ORS (about S mlikglhour) as soon as the patient
can drink: usually after 3-4 hours (infants) or 1-2 hours
(older patients).
After 6 hours (infants) or 3 hours (older patients), evaluate
the patient using the assessment chart. Then choose the
appropriate Plan (A, B or C) to continue treatment.

Send the patient immediately for IV treatment.

If the patient can drink, provide the mother with ORS
available nearby,
solution and show her how to give it during the trip.
(within 30 minutes)?

Start rehydration by tube with ORS solution: Give 20 mll

kglhour for 6 hours (total of 120 mllkg).
use a naso-gastric Reassess the patient every 1-2 hours:
I (NG) tube for
rehydration? I -
If there is repeated vomiting or increasing abdominal
distension, give the flu~dmore slowly.
- If hydration is not improving after 3 hours, send the
patient for IV therapy.
After 6 hours, reassess the patient and choose the
appropriate Treatment Plan.

Start rehydration by mouth with ORS solution, giving 20

drink? ml/kg/hour f w 6 hours (total of 120 mllkg).
Reassess the patient every 1-2 hours:
- If there is repeated vomiting, give the fluid more
slowly.
- If hydration is not improving after 3 hours, send the
patient for IV therapy.
After 6 hours, reassess the patient and choose the
appropriate Treatment Plan.

the patient for IV or

NG treatment

If possible, observe the patient at least 6 hours after rehydration to be sure the
mother can maintain hydration givlng ORS solution by mouth.
If the patient is above 2 years and there is cholera in your area, give an
appropriate oral antibiotic after the patient is alert.
I
MANAGEMENT AND PREVENTION OF DIARRHOEA

Recording data on the child

Health workers in the community and in the health facility should keep a record on
each child who comes for treatment or to use a service.

Each child must be identified in the records by at least the following information:

name
age (or date of birth)
date of visit
reason for visit
diagnosis
type of treatment or service provided.

From this information a health worker can count the number of episodes of diarrhoea
treated each month in children less than 5 years of age, and the number of children
given other services.

Additional valuable data that may be recorded include sex, address (the health worker
may want to know the distance the child has travelled to receive treatment), informa-
tion from the physical examination, and whether the child has watery diarrhoea or
dysentery.

These records should be kept for periodic review by the supervisor in order to monitor
the use of various services and to help plan future use.

The forms used for patient records may differ from one health facility or area to
another. The form should include at least the minimum data and be easy to
understand and fill out. If existing record-keeping systems in a health area do not
include the minimum information, the supervisor should modify them to include that
information, or design new forms. If all health workers in an area use the same form, it
will be easier to collect and combine the data for analysis.

ESSENTIAL SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE: SECTION 5

The health worker should be able to:

demonstrate how to prepare ORS solution correctly

give oral rehydration therapy to dehydrated children
give intravenous rehydration therapy to children with severe dehydration or
refer them for this treatment
teach mothers how to continue treatment at home
keep appropriate records of treatment given.
SECTION 6
Treatment of other problems

The section of the diarrhoea management chart entitled Then, for other problems,
shown on page 14 and in Annex l , describes

dysentery (that is, diarrhoea with blood in the stools)

persistent diarrhoea (that is, diarrhoea lasting for 14 days or more)
severe malnutrition
fever.

There is also a section of the chart entitled Use of drugs for children with diarrhoea.
This is shown on page 24 and in Annex 1. Drugs are very rarely needed in the treatment
of diarrhoea. However, antibiotics should be used for dysentery and for suspected
cholera with severe dehydration. A list of suitable antibiotics is given in Annex 6.

Dysentery
Presence of blood in the stools is an indication of infection with microbes that invade
the walls of the intestine; Shigella is the most common of those that cause dysentery in
children. Other microbes rarely cause dysentery; antibiotic treatment is not required
and illness usually subsides without serious complications.

If a patient has blood in the stools, it should be treated as suspected sh~gellosls.

Practical empirical therapy for dysentery involves the following antibiotic therapy.

F~rst,an ant~btot~c
to w h ~ c hmost sh~gellaeIn the area are sensltlve IS glven for 2 days If
the patlent Improves, the drug IS contrnued for 5 days If there IS no ~mprovementIn the
patlent's cond~tlon,a second ant~blotlcknown to be effectlve agalnst shlgellae IS glven
for 2 days If the patlent Improves, treatment IS continued for 5 days If there IS no
~rnprovement-or ~fat any time trophozo~tesof Entamoeba hwtolyt~cacontarnlng red
blood cells are seen In the faeces-the patrent should be treated emplrlcally for
amoeb~as~s

E hwtolyt~caIS a very rare cause of dysentery In chlldren The cllnlcal presentat~onof

amoeblasls IS slow onset of diarrhoea, whlch IS In marked contrast to the abrupt or
acute onset of shlgella dysentery Early treatment of sh~gelloslswlth appropriate
antlblotlcs IS Important to decrease the seventy, duratron, and compl~cat~ons of the
lnfectlon Routlne treatment (metron~dazole)for E h~stolyt~ca should never be glven ~t
IS tneffectlve agalnst sh~gellae,has adverse slde-effects, and Increases the cost of
treatment Treatment for amoeb~aslsshould be glven only ~fthe patlent wlth dysentery
falls to Improve after consecutlve treatment wlth two antlblotlcs, each glven for 2 days,
or when trophozo~tesof E hwtolyt~cacontalnlng red blood cells are seen In fresh
stools
Giardiasis should only be treated with an antiparasitic drug (metronidazole) when
diarrhoea has lasted at least 14 days and cysts or trophozoites of Giardia are seen in
faeces or small bowel fluid.

Cholera
Cholera is an important cause of acute diarrhoea in which, as for acute diarrhoea of
other origin, rehydration is the cornerstone of effective case management. However,
dehydration may be more severe in cholera than in other types of diarrhoea. An adult
with cholera may lose 15 litres of fluid in a 24-hour period, and a child with severe
cholera may die from dehydration within a few hours of the onset of diarrhoea.
Rehydration with ORS solution for patients with some dehydration and with intraven-
ous fluids for patients with severe dehydration is therefore life-saving.

Whereas acute diarrhoea is normally more prevalent in young children, cholera

outbreaks affect adults as well. The use of suitable antibiotics in severe cases of
cholera will shorten the duration of disease and thus reduce the period during which
patients may spread cholera to others.

ESSENTIAL SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE: SECTION 6

The health worker should be able to give appropriate treatment or refer for
dysentery, persistent diarrhoea, severe malnutrition, and fever.

USE OF DRUGS
FOR CHILDREN WITH DIARRHOEA
ANTIBIOTICS should ONLY be used for dysentery and for suspected cholera cases
with severe dehydration. Otherwise, they are ineffective and should NOT be given.
ANTIPARASITIC drugs should ONLY be used for:

- Amoebiasis, after antibiotic treatment of bloody diarrhoea for Shigella has failed or
trophozoites of E. histolytica containing red blood cells are seen in the faeces.

- Giardiasis, when diarrhoea has lasted at least 14 days and cysts or trophozoites of
Giardia are seen in faeces or small bowel fluid.
ANTIDIARRHOEAL DRUGS and ANTIEMETICS should NEVER be used. None has
proven practical value. Some are dangerous.
SECTION 7
Prevention of diarrhoea

An important part of the health worker's job is to help prevent diarrhoea by convincing
and helping community members to adopt and maintain certain preventive practices.
These preventive practices are:

breast-feeding
improved weaning
use of plenty of water for hygiene and clean water for drinking
hand-washing
use of latrines
proper disposal of the stools of young children
immunization against measles.

The health worker can teach, encourage, and set a good example to influence
community members to adopt these preventive practices.

Some simple facts that people in the community should know about each preventive
practice are presented on the following pages.

Breast-feeding
Mothers should give only breast milk to their babies for the first 4-6 months and
then continue breast-feeding up to 2 years of age or beyond, while giving other
foods.
A new mother should be taught how to hold the baby for breast-feeding and how to
place the breast in the baby's mouth. This is best done by a female health worker or
another woman who has successfully breast-fed her own children.
To breast-feed most effectively, mothers should:
- start breast-feeding as soon as possible after the baby is born

- breast-feed on demand (increased sucking increases milk supply)

- express milk manually to avoid engorgement of the breasts during periods of

separation from the baby

- not give their babies other fluids, such as water, sugar water, or milk formula,

during the first 4-6 months of life; however, if the baby develops diarrhoea, extra
fluids should be given as described on page 6.
If the mother works outside the home and it is not possible for her to take the baby
with her, she should breast-feed before leaving home, on returning at night, and at
any other time when she is with the baby.
A mother should continue breast-feeding when her baby is ill, and after the illness.
This is especially important if the baby has diarrhoea.
I
MANAGEMENT AND PREVENTION OF DIARRHOEA

Improved weaning practices

Clean, nutritrous weaning foods should be introduced when a ehrld IS about 4-6
months old. Inlt~ally,soft mashed foods are best.
A ch~ld'sdlet should become ~ncreasrnglyvarred and should ~nclude:the staple food
of the communrty (usually a cereal or root); beans or peas; some food from animals,
for example, mllk products, eggs, or meat; and green leafy vegetables or orange
vegetables.
A child should also be given some fru~tor frurt jufce, and some vegetable oil or fat
should be added to the weaning food.
Drlnks are better given with a cup or spoon than with a bottle.
Family members should wash therr hands before preparrng weanrng food, and
before feeding a baby.
Food should be prepared In a clean place, using clean pots and ufensrls.
Uncooked food should be washed in clean water before ~tIS eaten.
Cooked food should be eaten wh~leit is still hot; prevrously prepared food should be
thoroughly reheated before being eaten.
Foods that are berng kept should be covered and, it poss~ble,refr~geraled,

Use of plenty of water for hygiene and clean water for drinking
Use the most readrly available water for personal and domestic hygiene,
Water for drtnklng should be collected from the cleanest avarlabie source,
Water sources should be protected by: keeprng anrrnals away; tocatrng latrines more
than 10 metres away from the source, and downhtl!; and d~gglngdrarnage drfchea
uphill from the source to channel, storm-water away.
 PREVENTION OF DIARRHOEA I
a Water should be collected and stored in clean, covered containers. It should be
taken from the storage container with a clean, long-handled dipper.
a Water used for making food or drinks for young children should be boiled.

a All family members should wash their hands well:

- after cleaning a child who has defecated, and after disposing of a child's stool

- after defecation

- before preparing food

- before eating

- before feeding a child.

a An adult or older sibling should wash the hands of young children.

Use of latrines
a All families should have a clean and functioning latrine. The latrine should be used
by all family members who are old enough to use it.
a The latrine should be kept clean by regular washing of dirty surfaces.
a If there is no latrine, family members should:
- defecate at a distance from the house, paths, or areas where children play, and
at least 10 metres from the water supply
- avoid going barefoot to defecate

- not allow a child to visit the defecation area alone.

Proper disposal of the stools of young children

a The stool of a young child or baby should be collected quickly, wrapped in a leaf or
newspaper, and buried or put into the latrine.
 A young child should be helped to defecate into an easily cleaned container.
The stool should then be put into a latrine and the container washed out.
Alternatively, the child can defecate onto a surface such as a newspaper or large
leaf, and this can be put into a latrine.
A child who has defecated should be cleaned promptly, and the child's hands
should be washed. The person who has cleaned the child should also wash his or
her hands thoroughly.

Immunization against measles

Children should be immunized against measles as soon after 9 months of age as
possible.

What health workers can do to support preventive practices

1. Use good educational techniques
Whenever health workers have an opportunity, they should educate family members
about prevention of diarrhoea. Opportunities may occur when mothers come for
prenatal care or to have their children immunized. Health workers should create other
opportunities, such as group educational sessions or home visits to mothers.

Health workers should be careful not to teach too much about prevention at one time.
They should choose the messages that are most relevant for a mother or group of
mothers. For example, mothers receiving prenatal care could be taught about breast-
feeding, which is an important way to prevent diarrhoea in young infants. Mothers of
babies of 4-6 months will need to know about safe weaning practices. If health
workers use good educational techniques, they will be more effective in helping
community members understand the benefits of the preventive practices.
 PREVENTION OF DIARRHOEA

The rules for home treatment of diarrhoea given on pages 6-8 are also useful when
I
teaching about prevention.

2. Set a good example

Health workers should always "practise what they preach" about prevention. What a
person does always sends a more powerful message than what he or she says.

3. Participate in community projects to improve preventive practices

In cooperation with existing community groups, health workers can use their know-
ledge of ways to prevent diarrhoea to help plan useful projects. Some examples of
projects that could be carried out with limited community resources, and that would
significantly benefit many community members, include:

buying soap in bulk for the community

improving water sources
m designating and supporting someone to build family latrines
gardening to produce better and cheaper ingredients for weaning food.

4. Support breast-feeding
A health worker who attends the birth of a baby can help the mother begin breast-
feeding by doing the things listed below. Health workers can also encourage tradi-
tional birth attendants or family members attending a birth to do these things.

Give the infant to the mother to begin breast-feeding immediately, or as soon as

possible, after delivery.
Let the mother and infant stay in the same room or bring the infant to breast-feed
when hungry.
Do not give feeds other than breast milk to a newborn baby.
Show the mother the best way to breast-feed, and how to avoid problems with
breast-feeding.

Health workers can encourage breast-feeding mothers to form a breast-feeding

support group who meet together to discuss any problems they may be having.

5. Build and maintain a latrine at the health facility

A clean, functioning latrine at the health facility will be an example to people coming
for health services. It should be properly maintained and kept clean, so that community
members see how a latrine should be used and looked after.

6. Tell community members where the clean water sources are

and how to improve water sources
Some of the sources of water in a community can probably be improved by taking
simple measures such as those listed below. Community members may want to make
MANAGEMENT AND PREVENTION OF DIARRHOEA

improvements to water sources if health workers can tell them exactly what should be
done.

Build a fence or wall around the water source to keep animals away.
Dig drainage ditches uphill from an open well to prevent storm-water from flowing
into it.
Do not allow washing in the water source.
Do not allow children to play in or around the water source.
Do not locate latrines uphill from, or within 10 metres of, the water source.
Install a simple pulley device and bucket to make it easier to raise water from a well.

ESSENTIAL SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE: SECTION 7

The health worker should be able to describe and support what families can do to
prevent diarrhoea, including:

breast-feeding
improved weaning practices
the use of plenty of water for hygiene and clean water for drinking
hand-washing
the use of latrines
proper disposal of the stools of young children
immunization against measles.
SECTION 8
Things to remember about the management
and prevention of diarrhoea

The most important aspects of managing a patient with diarrhoea are preventing or
treating dehydration and maintaining good nutrition.
Antidiarrhoeal drugs should never be used; antibiotics should be given only for
dysentery and for suspected cholera with severe dehydration in children over 2
years of age.
Health workers should teach family members how to treat diarrhoea. The three rules
for home treatment of diarrhoea are as follows:

1. Give the child more fluids than usual to prevent dehydration.

2. Give the child plenty of food to prevent malnutrition.
3. Take the child to the health worker if he or she is not getting better

When a child with diarrhoea is brought to a health worker, the health worker should:

- use the diarrhoea management chart (Annex 1) for assessing and treating the
child
- look and feel for signs of dehydration

- check for problems other than dehydration (for example dysentery, persistent

diarrhoea, severe malnutrition)

- select a treatment plan

- give oral rehydration therapy to children with some dehydration

- give intravenous rehydration therapy to children with severe dehydration, or refer

them for this treatment

- give appropriate treatment or refer for any other problems found.

The health worker should be able to describe what families can do to prevent
diarrhoea, including breast-feeding, improved weaning practices, use of plenty of
clean water for hygiene and clean water for drinking, use of latrines, proper disposal
of the stools of young children, and immunization against measles.

Some things that health workers can do to support preventive practices include:

- use good educational techniques

- set a good example
- participate in community projects to improve preventive practices

- support breast-feeding

- build and maintain a latrine at the health facility

- tell community members where the clean water sources are and how to improve

water sources.
ANNEX 1
Diarrhoea management chart

The next six pages contain segments of the WHO chart, Management of the patient
with diarrhoea (1992). This is a poster-sized chart for hanging on the wall. It is available
on request from the Programme for Control of Diarrhoea1 Diseases, World Health
Organization, 1211 Geneva 27, Switzerland, and from WHO Regional Offices.

FIRST, ASSESS YOUR PATIENT FOR DEHYDRATION

A
l . LOOKAT CONDITION Restless. Initabla t Lnhargk or uneonulous;
fk4PPY.

EYES Sunken Very sunken and dry

TEARS I Absent
II Absent I
THIRST Dr~nksnormally, . Thlrsty, drinks eagerly*
not able to drink.

2 FEEL SKIN PINCH Goes back quickly I. Goes back slowly. II Goes b . ~ kV ~ Y-ly +
I
3 DECIDE The patlent has NO
SIGNS OF DEHYDRATION '.
slgn mere IS SOME sign *, the-e 1s SEVERE
DEHYDRATION DEHYDRATION

4. TREAT Use Treatment Plan A

I Wagn me patlent. If possible.
and use Treatment Plan B
I W&gh the pabent snd use
Treatment Plan C URGENTLY
I
 ANNEX l I
THEN, FOR OTHER PROBLEMS
ASK ABOUT BLOOD IN IF BLOOD IS PRESENT
THE STOOL
Treat for 5 days with an oral antibiotic recommended for
Shlgella in your area.
Teach the mother to feed the child as described in Plan A.
See the child again after 2 days if:
- under l year of age
- initially dehydrated
- there is still blood in the stool
- not getting better
If the stool is still bloody after 2 days, change to a second
oral antibiotic recommended for Shigella in your area.
Give it for 5 days.

ASK WHEN THIS EPISODE OF IF DIARRHOEA HAS LASTED AT LEAST 14 DAYS:

DIARRHOEA BEGAN
Refer to hospital if:
- the child is under 6 months old
- dehydration is present. (Referthe child after
treatment of dehydration.)
Otherwise, teach the mother to feed her child as in Plan A,
except:
- give only half the usual amount of milk, or replace milk
with a fermented milk product, such as yoghurt.
- assure full energy intake by giving 6 meals a day of
thick cereal and added oil, mixed with vegetables.
pulses, meat, or fish.
Tell the mother to bring the child back after 5 days:
- if diarrhoea has not stopped, refer to hospital.
- if diarrhoea has stopped, tell the mother to:
- use the same foods for the child's regular diet.
- after 1 more week, gradually resume the usual
animal milk.
- give an extra meal each day for at least 1 month.

LOOK FOR SEVERE IF THE CHILD HAS SEVERE MALNUTRITION:

MALNUTRITION
Do not attempt rehydration; refer to hospital for management.
P~ovidethe mother with ORS solution and show her how to
glve 5 ml/kg/hr durlng the tr~p.

ASK ABOUT FEVER AND IF THE CHILD IS UNDER 2 MONTHS OF AGE:

TAKE TEMPERATURE Rehydrate as necessary. If there is fever ( 3 I C or above)
after rehydration, refer to hospital. Do not give paracetamol
or an antimalarial.

IF THE CHILD IS 2 MONTHS OF AGE OR OLDER:

If temperature is 39°C or above, give paracetamol.
If there is falciparum malaria in the area, and the child has
any fever (38" C or above) or history of fever in the past 5
days, give an antimalarial (or manage according to your
malaria programme recommendation).
 TREATMENT PLAN A
TO TREAT DIARRHOEA AT HOME
U S E THIS P L A N TO T E A C H T H E MOTHER TO-:

Continue to treat at home her child's current episode of diarrhoea.

Glve early treatment for future episodes of diarrhoea.

E X P L A I N THE THREE R U L E S FOR TREATING DIARRHOEA AT HOME:

1. GlVE THE CHlLD MORE FLUIDS THAN USUAL TO PREVENT DEHYDRATION:

Use recommended home fluids. These include: ORS solution, food-based fluids
(such as soup, rice water, and yoghurt drinks) end plain water. Use ORS solution for
children described in the box below. (Note: If the child is under 6 months old and Is
not yet taklng solid food, glve ORS solution or water rather than a food-based fluid).
Give as much of these fluids as the child will take. Use the amounts shown below for
ORS as a guide.
Continue giving these fluids until the diarrhoea stops.

2. GlVE THE CHlLD PLENTY OF FOOD TO PREVENT MALNUTRITION:

Continue to breast-feedfrequently.
If the child Is not breast-fed, give the usual milk.
If the child is 6 months or older, or already taking solid food:
- Also give cereal or another starchy food mixed, if possible, with pulses.
vegetables, and meat or fish. Add 1 or 2 teaspoonfuls of vegetable oil to each
serving.
- Give fresh fruit juice or mashed banana to provide potassium.
- Give freshly prepared foods. Cook and mash or grind food well.
- Encourage the child to eat; offer food at least 6 times a day.
- Give the same foods aner diarrhoea stops, and give an extra meal each day for
two weeks.

3. TAKE THE CHlLD TO THE HEALTH WORKER IF THE CHlLD DOES NOT GET
BETTER IN 3 DAYS OR DEVELOPS ANY OF THE FOLLOWING:
Many watery stools Eating or drinking poorly
Repeated vomiting Fever
Marked thirst Blood in the stool

They have been on Treatment Plan B or C.

They cannot return to the health worker il the diarrhoea gets worse.
If is nationalpdicy to giv. ORS to all c h i h who see a health worker /or

IF THE CHlLD W I L L B E GIVEN ORS SOLUTION AT HOME, SHOW THE MOTHER

HOW MUCH ORS TO GlVE AFTER EACH LOOSE STOOL AND GlVE HER
ENOUGH PACKETS FOR 2 DAYS:

Amount of ORS to glve Amount of ORS t o provlde

Age after each loose stool tor use at home

Less than 24 months 50-100 ml 500 mllday

2 up to l0 years 100-200ml 1000 mllday

10 years or more As much as wanted 2000 mllday

Describe and show the amount to be given after each stool using a local measure.

SHOW THE MOTHER H O W T O MIX ORS.

SHOW HER H O W T O G l V E ORS:

Give a teaspoonful every 1-2minutes for a child under 2 years.

Give frequent sips from a cup for an older child.
If the child vomits, wait 10 minutes. Then give the solution more slowly (for example,
a spoonful every 2-3minutes).
* If diarrhoea continues after the ORS packets are used up, tell the mother to give other
fluids as described in the first rule above or return for more ORS.
 ANNEX l I
TREATMENT PLAN B
TO TREAT DEHYDRATION
APPROXIMATE AMOUNT OF ORS SOLUTION TO GIVE IN THE FIRST 4 HOURS:

Use the patient'sage only when you do not know the weight. The approximate amount of ORS required
(in ml) can also be calculated by multiplyingthe patient's weight (in kg) times 75.

If the child wants more ORS than shown, give more.

Encourage the mother to continue breast-feeding.
For infants under 6 months who are not breast-fed, also give 100-200 ml clean
water during this period.

OBSERVE THE CHILD CAREFULLY AND HELP THE MOTHER GIVE ORS SOLUTION:
Show her how much solution to give her child.
Show her how to give it - a teaspoonful every 1-2 minutes for a child under 2 years,
frequent sips from a cup for an older child.
Check from time to time to see if there are problems.
If the child vomits, wait 10 minutes and then continue giving ORS, but more slowly,
for example, a spoonful every 2-3 minutes.
If the child's eyelids become puffy, stop ORS and give plain water or breast milk.
Give ORS according to Plan A when the puffiness is gone.
h

AfTER 4 HOURS, REASSESS THE CHILD USING THE ASSESSMENT CHART. THEN
SELECT PLAN A, B, OR C TO CONTINUE TREATMENT.
If there are no signs of dehydration, shift to Plan A. When dehydration has been
corrected, the child usually passes urine and may also be tired and fall asleep.
If signs indicating some dehydration are still present, repeat Plan B, but start to
offer food, milk and juice as described in Plan A.

If signs indicating severe dehydration have appeared, shift to Plan C.

IF THE MOTHER MUST LEAVE BEFORE COMPLETING TREATMENT PLAN B:

Show her how much ORS to give to finish the 4-hour treatment at home.

Give her enough ORS packets to complete rehydration, and for 2 more days as
shown in Plan A.

Show her how to prepare ORS solution.

Explain to her the ttlree rules in Plan A for treating her child at home:
- to give ORS or other fluids until diarrhoea stops
- to feed the child
- to bring the child back to the health worker, if necessary.
MANAGEMENT AND PREVENTION OF DIARRHOEA

TREATMENT PLAN C
TO TREAT
SEVERE DEHYDRATlON QUICKLY
FOLLOW THE ARROWS. IF ANSWER IS "YES", G 0 ACROSS. IF "NO", GO DOWN

START HERE

W= I) Start IV fluids immediately. If the patient can drink, give

intravenous (iV) ORS by mouth while the drip is set up. Give 100 mlikg
Ringer's Lactate Solution (or, if not available, normal
saline), divided as follows:

Age First give Then give

30 mVkg in: 70 mlkg in:

Infants 1 hour S hours

(under 12 months)
Older 30 minutes ' 2 112 hours
Repeat once if radial pulse Is still very weak or not detectable.
Reassess the patient every 1-2 hours. If hydration is not
improving, give the IV drip more rapidly.
Also give ORS (about 5 mlikglhour) as soon as the patient
can drink: usually after 3-4 hours (infants) or 1-2 hours
(older patients).
After 6 hours (infants) or 3 hours (older patients), evaluate
the patient using the assessment chart. Then choose the
appropriate Plan (A, B or C) to continue treatment.

-
eESI, Send the patient immediately for IV treatment.
If the patient can drink, provide the mother with ORS
available nearby,
solution and show her how to give it during the trip.
(within 30 minutes)?

Start rehydration by tube with ORS solution: Give 20 mll

kg/hour for 6 hours (total of 120 mllkg).
use a naso-gastric Reassess the patient every 1-2 hours:
(NG) tube for - If there is repeated vomiting or increasing abdominal
rehydration? distension, give the fluid more slowly.
- If hydration is not improving after 3 hours, send the
patient for IV therapy.
After 6 hours, reassess the patient and choose the
appropriate Treatment Plan.

Start rehydration by mouth with ORS solution, giving 20

drink? ml/kg/hour for 6 hours (total of 120 mllkg).
Reassess the patient every 1-2 hours:
- If there is repeated vomiting, give the fluid more

I slowly.
- If hydration is not improving after 3 hours, send the
patient for IV therapy.
After 6 hours, reassess the patient and choose the
appropriate Treatment Plan.

the patient for IV or

NG treatment

If possible, observe the patient at least 6 hours after rehydration to be sure the
mother can mainta~nhydration giving ORS solution by mouth.
If the patient is above 2 years and there is cholera in your area, give an
appropriate oral antibiotic after the patient is alert.
 ANNEX l I
USE OF DRUGS
FOR CHILDREN WITH DIARRHOEA
ANTIBIOTICS should ONLY be used for dysentery and for suspected cholera cases
with severe dehydration. Otherwise, they are ineffective and should NOT be given.
ANTIPARASITIC drugs should ONLY be used for:

- Amoebiasis, after antibiotic treatment of bloody diarrhoea for Shigella has failed or
trophozoites of E. histolytica containing red blood cells are seen in the faeces.
- Giardiasis, when diarrhoea has lasted at least 14 days and cysts or trophozoites of
Giardia are seen in faeces or small bowel fluid.
ANTIDIARRHOEAL DRUGS and ANTIEMETICS should NEVER be used. None has
proven practical value. Some are dangerous.
ANNEX 3
H o w to determine whether
a child is malnourished by using
arm circumference

The upper arm has a bone, muscles, and fat. When babies are about 1 year old, they
have quite a lot of fat under the skin of their arms. When they are 5 years old, there is
much less fat and more muscle. The distance around the upper arm remains almost
the same between the ages of 1 and 5 years. If a child is malnourished, this distance is
reduced, and the arm becomes thin. This is due to reduction in muscle and fat. By
placing a special measuring strip around the upper arm you can find out whether a
child between the ages of 1 and 5 years is malnourished or not.

This measuring strip is called a tri-coloured arm strip and looks like this:
A tricoloured arm strip

RED YELLOW GREEN

I

You can make a measuring strip from a string or strip of material that does not stretch
Take care that the markings are accurate.

To use this strip:

Put the strip around the mid upper arm

of the child and see which colour is
touched by the 0 cm mark on the strip.

If the green part is touched, the child

is well nourished.
If the yellow part is touched, the child
is moderately malnourished.
If the red part is touched, the child is
severely malnourished.

This method of measuring the arm is

useful because the health worker can
identify malnutrition in a child without
using a scale or knowing the child's age.
However, since it only shows large
changes in a child's nutrition, it is not
suitable for determining whether the
child is improving or becoming worse.
ANNEX 4
W h a t a health worker should do
when packets of oral rehydration salts
are not available

The health worker should understand the routine procedures for ordering ORS
packets and the procedure for obtaining emergency supplies quickly.

If ORS packets are not available and it is necessary to prepare and dispense large
quantities of an oral rehydration fluid, ingredients can be measured in bulk and mixed
thoroughly in an appropriate volume of drinking-water. The cleanest available
drinking-water should be used. Boiled water, cooled before use, or chlorinated water is
best. However, the prepared fluid should not be kept for more than 24 hours and
should not be dispensed in quantities exceeding the 24-hour volume requirement.

The following table shows how to make an oral rehydration fluid in large quantities; the
example given is 5 litres.

Ingredients Amount required Amount required Notes

for 1 litre of for 5 litres of
oral rehydration oral rehydration
fluid fluid1

Water 1 litre 1 litre X 5 = 5 litres Use the cleanest avail-

able drinking-water.
Boiled water, cooled
before use, or chlorinated
water is best

Sodium chloride 3.5 g 3.5 g X 5 = 17.5 g This must be used

(common salt) to make the solution

Glucose 20 g 2Ogx5=lOOg This must be used

or or or to make the solution
sucrose
(common sugar) 40 g 40 g X 5 = 200 g

Trisodium citrate 2.9 g 2.9 g x 5 = 14.5 g The solution can be

dihydrate, or or or made without this, but
sodium bicarbonate 2.5 g 2.5 g X 5 = 12.5 g it is better to have it

Potassium chloride 1.5 g 1.5gx5=7.5 g The solution can be

made without this, but it
is better to have it.
Do not add potassium
chloride if accurate
scales are not available

'If larger volumes of the fluid are prepared, the amount of each ingredient should be increased
proportionally.

The ingredients should be measured accurately using scales (which may be available
in a local pharmacy). This is especially important in measuring potassium chloride:
errors in potassium measurements are dangerous.
If accurate scales are not available, the fluid should be prepared without potassium
ANNEX 4 I
chloride. In this case, and if the child is already taking solid food, the mother should be
advised to give fruit juice or mashed banana to provide potassium.

Do not mix the salts and sugar in dry form without adding the appropriate amounts of
water when they are measured in bulk. You cannot ensure the uniformity of mixing of
dry ingredients, and this could be dangerous.
ANNEX 5
lntravenous therapy for severe
dehydration

Administration of intravenous fluids

The technique for administering intravenous fluids can be taught only by practical
demonstration and only by someone with experience. lntravenous therapy should be
given only by trained persons. Several general points are made here.

The needles, tubing, bottles, and fluid used for intravenous therapy must be sterile.

lntravenous therapy can be given using any convenient vein. The most accessible
veins are generally those in front of the elbow, on the back of the hand, or, in infants,
on the side of the scalp.

Using a neck vein or making an incision to locate a vein is rarely necessary and should
be avoided if possible.

In patients requiring rapid resuscitation, the femoral vein may be used if the health
worker is trained in this technique. In this case, the needle must be held firmly in place
and removed as soon as possible. In some cases of severe dehydration, particularly in
adults, infusion into two veins may be necessary; one infusion line can be removed
once rehydration is well in progress.

It is useful to mark intravenous fluid bottles at various levels to show the time it should
take for the fluid to fall to each level. This allows easier monitoring of the rate of
administration.

Solutions for intravenous infusion

Although a number of intravenous solutions are available, they all lack some of the
electrolytes in the concentration needed by severely dehydrated patients. To ensure
adequate electrolyte replacement, some ORS solution should be given as soon as the
patient is able to drink, even while intravenous therapy is being given. The relative
suitability of several intravenous solutions is described briefly below.

Preferred solution
Ringer's lactate solution. This is also called Hartmann's solution for injection. It is the
best commercially available solution. It supplies an adequate concentration of sodium,
and sufficient lactate, which is metabolized to bicarbonate for correction of acidosis
(a condition resulting from a relative excess of acid in the blood, primarily due to loss of
alkali in the stool). The solution can be used for patients in all age groups to treat
dehydration due to acute diarrhoea of any cause. Early provision of ORS solution and
ANNEX 5 I
early resumption of feeding will provide the required amounts of potassium and
glucose.

Acceptable solutions
Use of any of the following solutions should be supplemented by ORS solution given by
mouth as soon as the patient can drink. The ORS solution will provide the potassium,
bicarbonate, and sodium that may be lacking in the intravenous solutions.

Normal saline. This solution is also called isotonic or physiological saline, and is often
readily available. It will not correct acidosis and will not replace potassium losses.
Sodium bicarbonate or sodium lactate and potassium chloride can be added to the
solution, but quantities must be carefully calculated and the solutions must be sterile.

Half-strength Darrow's solution. This solution is also called lactated potassic saline. It
contains less sodium chloride than is needed for efficient correction of the sodium
deficit in severe dehydration.

Half-normal saline in 5% dextrose. Like normal saline, this solution will not correct
acidosis or replace potassium losses. It also contains less sodium chloride than is
needed for efficient correction of the sodium deficit in severe dehydration.

Unsuitable solutions
Plain glucose or dextrose solution. These solutions should not be used as they provide
only water and sugar. They do not contain electrolytes and thus do not correct the
electrolyte deficits or acidosis.

lntravenous therapy for severe dehydration

The purpose of intravenous therapy is to give the patient a large quantity of fluid
quickly to overcome the serious fluid loss that has caused severe dehydration.

lntravenous therapy should be started quickly, giving the quantities specified on the
diarrhoea management chart. If the patient can drink, ORS solution should be given by
mouth until the drip is running. The first portion of the intravenous fluid (30 ml/kg) is
given very rapidly (within 60 minutes for infants under 12 months, within 30 minutes for
older children and adults) to restore the blood volume and prevent death from shock.
The rest of the fluid (70 ml/kg) is given more slowly to complete rehydration within
3 hours (6 hours for infants).

During the course of intravenous therapy, the patient's progress should be assessed
every 1-2 hours to determine whether the rate of administration is satisfactory or
needs to be increased.
MANAGEMENT AND PREVENTION OF DIARRHOEA

Particular attention should be paid to:

the number and volume of stools passed

the extent of vomiting
the presence of, and changes in, signs of dehydration
whether the rehydration fluid is being successfully given, and in adequate amounts.

If the signs of dehydration and the diarrhoea and vomiting become worse, or remain
unchanged, the rate of administration and the amount of fluid given should be
increased.
ANNEX 6
Appropriate use of drugs for cholera, dysentery
and parasitic diarrhoea

Antibiotic treatment of cholera and dysentery

Disease Oral Recommended dose Estimated single dose (in tablets, capsules, or ml of
antibiotic' syrup), according to body weight in kg

Children Adults Children Adults

Severe Doxycycline3
cholera2 Tablet or capsule, Not suitable 300 rng once P P - P - 1
300 mg for children
under l 2 years

Tetracycline
Tablet or capsule, 12.5 mglkg 500 mg P 112 l 1 2 2
250 mg 4 times a day 4 times a day tablet
for 3 days for 3 days
Antibiotic treatment of cholera and dysentery (continued)
Disease Oral Recommended dose Estimated single dose (in tablets, capsules, or m l of
antibiotic1 syrup), according to body weight in kg

Children Adults Children Adults

Severe Trimethoprim-
cholera2 sulfamethoxazole
(TMP-SMX)4
Adult tablet TMP 5 rnglkg and TMP 160 mg and 114 112 1
TMP 80 rng and SMX 25 mglkg SMX 800 mg tablet tablet
SMX 400 rng twice a day twice a day
for 3 days for 3 days
Paediatric tablet, TMP 5 rnglkg and -
TMP 20 rng and SMX 25 rnglkg
SMX 100 rng twice a day
for 3 days
Syrup, TMP 40 mg TMP 5 rnglkg and -
and SMX 200 rng SMX 25 mglkg
in 5 rnl twice a day
for 3 days
Disease Oral Recommended dose Estimated single dose (in tablets, capsules, or ml of
antibiotic1 syrup), according to body weight in kg

Children Adults Children Adults

Severe Furazolidone5
cholera2 Tablet, l 0 0 mg 1.25 mglkg l 0 0 mg - - 114 114 112 1
4 times a day 4 times a day tablet tablet tablet
for 3 days for 3 days

Dysentery7 Trimethoprirn-
sulfamethoxazole
(TMP-SMX)
Adult tablet, TMP 5 mglkg and TMP 160 mg and 114 112 1
TMP 80 mg and SMX 25 mglkg SMX 800 mg tablet tablet
SMX 400 mg twice a day twice a day
for 5 days for 5 days
Paed~atrictablet, TMP 5 mglkg and
TMP 20 mg and SMX 25 mglkg
SMX 100 mg twice a day for
5 days
Syrup, TMP 40 mg TMP 5 mglkg and
and SMX 200 mg SMX 25 mglkg
in 5 ml twice a day for
5 days
Antibiotic treatment of cholera and dysentery (continued)
Disease Oral Recommended dose Estimated single dose (in tablets, capsules, or m l of
antibiotic' syrup), according to body weight in kg

Children Adults Children Adults

34kg 69kg 10-14kg 15-19kg 20-29kg

~ysentery' Nalidixic acid

Tablet, 250 mg 15 mglkg lg 114 112 1 1 2 4
4 tlmes a day 4 t~mesa day tablet tablet
for 5 days for 5 days

Ampicillin
Tablet or capsule, 25 mglkg 1g 112 1 1 2 3 4
250 mg 4 times a day 4 times a day tablet
for 5 days for 5 days

' Selection of a n antimicrobial should be based on sensitivity patterns of strains of Vibrio cholerae 01 and Shigella isolated in the area
'Antibiotics are recommended for patients older than 2 years wlth suspected cholera and severe dehydration
Doxycycline is the antimicrobial of choice for adults because only one dose is required. (See footnote 5 for treatment of pregnant women.)
+
4Trimethoprim sulfamethoxazole (also named CO-trimoxazole) IS the antimicrobial of c h o ~ c efor children. Tetracycline is equally effective; however, it is not
recommended for paediatric use in some countries.
Furazolidone is the antimicrobial of choice for pregnant women
6 0 t h e r choices include erythromycin and chloramphen~col
' Shigella is the most important cause of dysentery in young children. An antimicrobial to which most Shigella in the area are sensitive should be selected. If the stool is still
bloody after two days, the antimicrobial should be stopped and a different one used. In many areas, trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole IS the drug of cholce and nalidixic
acid is a n alternative. Resistance to ampiclllin is frequent.
Antimicrobial treatment of parasitic diarrhoea

Disease Oral Recommended dose Estimated single dose (in tablets, capsules, or rnl of
antimicrobial syrup), according to body weight in kg

Children Adults Children Adults

3-5kg 6-9kg 10-14kg 15-19kg 20-29kg

Amoebic Metronidazole
dysentery' Tablet, 250 mg 10 mglkg 750 mg 1I 4 112 1I 2 1 1 3
3 times a day 3 times a day tablet tablet tablet
for 5 days for 5 days
(10 days for (10 days for
severe disease) severe disease)

~iardiasis' Metronidazole
Tablet, 250 mg 5 mglkg 250 mg 1I 4 1I 4 112 1I 2 1
3 times a day 3 times a day tablet tablet tablet tablet
for 5 days for 5 days

' Amoeblasis is a n unusual cause of dysentery in young children. Metronidazole should be given only when trophozoites of Entamoeba histolytica contanlng red blood
cells are seen In the faeces or when bloody stools perslst after consecutive treatment with two antimicroblals (each given for two days) that are usually effective for
Shigeila In the area.
Treatment for g~ardiasisshould be given only when diarrhoea IS pers~stent(lasting at least 14 days) and cysts or trophozoites of Giardia are seen In faeces or small
bowel f u d Tlnidazole and ornldazole are also effect~ve.Tlnidazole is given in a single dose of 50 mglkg, with a maximum dose of 2 g. Ornidazole should be used
a c c o r d n g to the manufacturer's lnstructons.
ANNEX 7
Check-list of essential skills
and knowledge

P - -

In order to prevent and manage acute d~arrhoea,a health worker should be

able to

define diarrhoea in a way that is appropriate to his or her work setting

distinguish between acute and persistent diarrhoea
explain why diarrhoea is dangerous
explain how diarrhoea causes dehydration
describe the most important parts of the treatment of diarrhoea and dysentery
explain to family members the three rules for home treatment of diarrhoea;
these are-to give the child more fluids than usual, to give plenty of food, and
to take the child to the health worker if he or she is not getting better
a look and feel for signs of dehydration
select the appropriate treatment plan using the chart Assess your patient for
dehydration
check for problems other than dehydration (for example, dysentery, persistent
diarrhoea, severe malnutrition)
demonstrate how to prepare ORS solution correctly
give oral rehydration therapy to dehydrated children
give intravenous rehydration therapy to children with severe dehydration or
refer them for this treatment
teach mothers how to continue treatment at home
keep appropriate records of treatment given
give appropriate treatment or refer for dysentery, persistent diarrhoea, severe
malnutrition, and fever
describe what families can do to prevent diarrhoea, including breast-feeding,
improved weaning practices, the use of plenty of water for hygiene and clean
water for drinking, hand-washing, the use of latrines, proper disposal of the
stools of young children, and immunization against measles
list several things that health workers can do to support preventive practices.