Diarrhoea in Children: ORS, Feeding & When to Hospitalise

By Dashvanth Healthcare Medical Team · Reviewed by our specialists · East Delhi

Diarrhoea Is a Leading Killer of Children Under 5

Globally, diarrhoea causes 525,000 child deaths per year. In India, it remains a major cause of under-5 mortality, primarily due to dehydration. The good news: most deaths are preventable with ORS and continued feeding.

Defining Diarrhoea

≥3 loose/watery stools per day, or more frequent than the child's normal pattern. In breastfed infants, several soft stools per day are normal — diarrhoea in infants is watery stool significantly more frequent than usual.

ORS: The Life-Saving Treatment

• Begin ORS immediately when diarrhoea starts — do not wait for dehydration
• WHO ORS: 1 sachet in 1 litre of clean water
• Home solution: 1 teaspoon salt + 6 teaspoons sugar in 1 litre water
• Offer sip by sip every few minutes
• Dose: 10 ml/kg per loose stool; 50–100 ml/kg over 3–4 hours for mild dehydration

Continue Feeding

Continue breast milk / formula / age-appropriate foods throughout diarrhoea. Fasting slows recovery. Rice, banana, curd, khichdi are well-tolerated.

Zinc Supplementation

Zinc 10–20 mg/day × 14 days reduces diarrhoea severity and duration and prevents recurrence for 2–3 months. Recommended by WHO for all children with diarrhoea.

Signs of Dehydration — Hospitalise

• Sunken eyes, dry mouth, no tears when crying
• Skin pinch returns slowly
• Lethargic, limp, or unable to drink
• Reduced/no urine for 6+ hours
• Blood in stool (dysentery)