Abstrakt: |
To combat dehydration from diarrhœa in Shamlapur, a village of 7021 people, multiple community-based points were set up by trained volunteers for the distribution of glucose-electrolyte oral rehydration salt (ORS) packets. The comparable adjoining village, Bordil, with a population of 3888, obtained its supply of ORS from Shamlapur. Surveillance for 2 years showed that although diarrhœal attack-rates were equal, consumption of ORS after diarrhœa was 80% in Shamlapur and 38% in Bordil. There were 8 deaths in Shamlapur caused by diarrhœa and 23 in Bordil, showing an overall case fatality-rate of 0·5% and 2·4%, respectively, and a diarrhœal mortalityrate per 1000 population of 0·6 and 2·9, respectively. The observation indicated that although it may not be possible to reduce diarrhœal attack-rates, easy availability of rehydration solution and its early use after village-based training may save many lives, particularly those of children. |