UMEM Educational Pearls

Spring is in the air... and so is rotavirus. 

Area of the world affected:

·       Diarrheal illnesses were responsible for 1.6 million deaths for children under 5 globally in 2002. 

·       This number has improved over the years, in part due to oral rehydration salts (ORS) which were developed for cholera. 

Relevance to the US physician:

http://www.cdc.gov/surveillance/nrevss/rotavirus/region.html#top

·       ORS are also important for rotavirus treatment and uncomplicated gastroenteritis in children and adults. 

·       Commercially prepared solutions have different concentrations of ingredients, but all will work as better treatment and rehydration than common household products like sports drinks and juice. 

Bottom line:

Consider ORS in patients with uncomplicated acute gastroenteritis.

 

University of Maryland Section of Global Emergency Health

Author: Jennifer Reifel Saltzberg, MD, MPH

References

Atia AN, Buchman AL. Oral rehydration solutions in non-cholera diarrhea: a review. Am J Gastroenterol 2009;104(10):2596-604.

Sentongo, TA. The Use of Oral Rehydration Solutions in Children and Adults. Current Gastroenterology Reports 2004; 6:307–313.