What is Enhanced Diarrheal Disease Control?
Despite impressive gains made in the 1980s and 1990s, severe dehydration still contributes significantly to childhood morbidity and mortality in the developing world.
Today, diarrheal disease is responsible for an estimated 1.6 to 2.4 million deaths annually. It is the second largest killer of children under five.
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However, three new interventions for diarrheal disease control, when combined with traditional efforts, promise dramatic reductions in diarrhea-related death and hospitalization worldwide:
- A new, low-osmolarity formulation of oral rehydration solution (ORS)
- Zinc treatment during diarrheal episodes
- New vaccines against rotavirus
To learn more about these advances, and about traditional interventions such as breastfeeding and washing hands, browse our extensive library of useful documents from the World Health Organization (WHO), UNICEF, PATH, and many others. Just follow the links on the right side of this page.
About low-osmolarity ORS
In the 1970s, WHO and UNICEF began aggressively promoting the use of a standardized formulation of ORS to reduce the incidence of severe dehydration caused primarily by diarrhea. ORS has been the cornerstone of diarrheal disease control ever since. Recently, the ORS formulation was revised by reducing the sodium and glucose content. This new, low-osmolarity ORS, improves the efficacy of ORS, reduces the need for unscheduled intravenous infusions, lowers stool volume, and causes less vomiting compared with standard ORS. While the old formulation of ORS is still acceptable, WHO and UNICEF are now actively promoting this new formulation.
[more]
About zinc treatment
Recent studies suggest that a 10- to 14-day therapy of zinc treatment can considerably reduce the duration and severity of diarrheal episodes, decrease stool output, and lessen the need for hospitalization. Zinc may also prevent future diarrhea episodes for up to three months. [more]
About rotavirus
Rotavirus is responsible for approximately 600,000 deaths and 2 million hospitalizations annually. Worldwide, almost every child will have at least one rotavirus infection before he or she is five years old. The virus is so contagious and resilient that providing clean water and promoting proper hygiene do not significantly reduce incidence, which is nearly the same in industrialized and developing countries. Additionally, because rotavirus usually causes profuse vomiting, ORS/ORT is difficult to administer.
The only way to reduce the burden of rotavirus is through vaccination. Two oral vaccines are in use today. [more]
About traditional diarrheal disease control interventions
Providing clean water for drinking and food preparation, teaching children and adults to wash their hands properly, and exclusively breastfeeding infants are some of the most important things governments and families can do to protect health. These proven interventions have already made a world of difference for millions and millions of people.
[more on breastfeeding]
[more on hygiene and sanitation]
