This prospective follow-up study was carried out during 1996 to identify th
e outcome of children rehydrated in the ORT Corner of the Chittagong Medica
l College Hospital. In total, 269 children, aged less than five years, who
attended the ORT Corner, accompanied by their mothers, for treatment of unc
omplicated acute watery diarrhoea with 'no signs of dehydration' and 'some
dehydration,' were selected for the study. Mothers of the children were int
erviewed at the ORT Corner, and children were followed-up at home on the 5t
h post-ORT Corner visit day. The follow-up was completed for 260 cases (96.
7%). At follow-up, 227 cases (87.3%) were found to be cured, and 33 cases (
12.7%) still had diarrhoea. Of the cured, the mean duration of the episode
was 5.84+/-2.34 days (95% CI.5.55-6.13 days). All the cases received oral r
ehydration therapy (ORT) after attending the ORT Corner. Eighty-one cases (
31.2%), however, reconsulted the private doctors. Of those who reconsulted,
only 3 (3.7%) received WHO-recommended treatment of acute watery diarrhoea
, and the rest 78 (96.3%) received medication. The medication prolonged the
episode of diarrhoea significantly (6.22 days vs 5.48 days, p<0.001). None
of the cases, who reconsulted the private doctors, revisited the ORT Corne
r. Treatment by 'ORS only' was mentioned by 64% of the mothers as the reaso
n for non-revisit of the ORT Corner, and 20% of the mothers denied the rece
ipt of any advice about when to revisit the ORT Corner which calls for furt
her strengthening of communication activities of the ORT Corner.