Physiologic Basis of Oral Rehydration*

One of the major breakthroughs in the field of diarrheal diseases research has been the discovery that dehydration in cases of acute diarrhea of all etiologies and in all age groups can be safely and effectively treated by a simple method of oral rehydration using a glucose-electrolyte solution. For an optimum intestinal absorption of orally administered water and electrolyte solution, it must fulfill certain physiologic criteria. The World Health Organization recommended oral rehydration solution (ORS) satisfies physiologic criteria. ORS has been extensively used worldwide with remarkable results in the prevention and treatment of dehydration, the main complication of diarrheal illness. ORS ' appropriate use in the hospital wards and in out patient departments can reduce diarrheal care fatality rates, diarrheal disease hospitalization rates, and cost of diarrhea treatment. [Phil J Microbiol Infect Dis 1990