WHO/UNICEF Joint Statement: Clinical Management of Acute Diarrhoea

Two recent advances in managing diarrhoeal disease – newly formulated oral rehydration salts (ORS) containing lower concentrations of glucose and salt, and success in using zinc supplementation – can drastically reduce the number of child deaths. The new methods, used in addition to prevention and treatment of dehydration with appropriate fluids, breastfeeding, continued feeding and selective use of antibiotics, will reduce the duration and severity of diarrhoeal episodes and lower their incidence. Families and communities are key to achieving the goals set for managing the disease by making the new recommendations routine practice in the home and health facility.

This joint statement by WHO and UNICEF was contributed as a resource for the SHOPS Zinc e-Conference held on June 1-2, 2011.