Oral rehydration therapy in diarrhea. Not just for Third World children.

Oral rehydration therapy is an effective, practical, and economical means of treatment for dehydration secondary to diarrhea. The regimen can be used on an outpatient basis with a substantial reduction in both cost and hospital-induced anxiety. It is not necessary to discontinue breast-feeding infants with diarrhea, and early feeding does not prolong the diarrheal illness.