Oral rehydration solution therapy in the management of children with rotavirus diarrhea

Rotavirus infections are the most common cause of gastroenteritis among chi ldren younger than 3 years of age and are associated with sporadic outbreak s of diarrhea in elderly and immunocompromised-patients. Oral rehydration s olutions (ORS) are formulated to correct dehydration and acidosis. Currentl y, ORS do not promote intestinal healing; however, investigators are examin ing the role of nutrition in promoting intestinal healing. This article rev iews the composition of several ORS in human medicine and summarizes our cu rrent knowledge of the nutritional treatment of rotavirus diarrhea and inte stinal healing.