Diarrhea and Dehydration

Diarrheal disease and dehydration—its most common complication—are the main causes of morbidity and mortality in populations exposed to a disaster. There are different types of diarrhea caused by different pathogens. The causative agent can be suspected from the clinical manifestations, which help in selecting the initial treatment.

ORT and continued feeding (especially breastfeeding) have notably reduced the morbidity and mortality classically associated with diarrhea and dehydration. The substantial advantages of ORT over IV therapy make it the ideal tool in humanitarian emergencies involving large displaced populations.

The IMCI strategy is a fundamental tool of primary care in emergency settings because it makes use of available resources to provide safe and effective treatment.