Background: Acute gastroenteritis is the second most important cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Effective management of diarrheal illnesses at home is only possible if caregiver is adequately educated and motivated about the use of ORT.

Objectives: To evaluate prescription practices and use of ORT in the management of an acute diarrheal episode in the caregivers of children under 5 years of age

Methods: Caregivers of children under 5 years of age who presented to Civil hospital, Theog and were not taking treatment for same from any other hospital were interviewed on basis of a structured questionnaire.

Results: Caregivers of 112 children who met the inclusion criteria(primarily treated at home with no treatment been taken from any outside hospital or health center) were interviewed. Access to ORT was found in 61% of all children with diarrhea. These being children who were offered ORT at home, had previous experiences with ORS. Socio-economic status did not significantly correlate with better performance.

Conclusion: In our study, we found out that management of diarrhoea (acute gastroenteritis) at home was grossly inadequate. We also found discrepancies in method of preparation and administration of ORT.

Keywords: ORT (oral rehydration therapy) ORS (oral rehydration solution).

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Dr Arnav Shandil, MD

Civil Hospital Theog, Distt Shimla, H.P. India