MANAGEMENT OF ACUTE CHILDHOOD DIARRHEA IN SAUDI-ARABIA - PRACTICES VERSUS THE WHO RECOMMENDATIONS

The fluid management of 247 infants and children who were admitted to King Fahad Hospital at Al Baha, Saudi Arabia with acute diarrhoea was reviewed. Half of them were infants and 25% were exclusively breast fe d. Although dehydration was mild in 149 (60.3 %) patients and 227 (92. 7 %) were at the most moderately dehydrated, as many as 95.8 % were gi ven intravenous (IV) hydration at least initially. This indicates that the WHO recommendation to prescribe oral rehydrating solution (ORS) f or the control of diarrhoeal diseases, is still not implemented at som e of the regional hospitals in Saudi Arabia, and emphasizes the need f or urgent and effective efforts to rectify this situation.