GUWAHATI, July 29 - Paediatricians have warned against oral intake of ORS L (liquid) by children suffering from diarrhoea, and insisted on the use of WHO recommended ORS only.
�Nowadays, there is a tendency to opt for ORS L, which is detrimental to the health of the children suffering from diarrhoea. We suggest the parents not to opt for the liquid form which, although tastes like fruit juice and is available in various flavours, is not at all suitable for children,� a group of paediatricians under the banner of Indian Academy of Paediatrics told mediapersons at a press conference here today.
Deliberating on the significance of the ongoing ORS week (July 23 to 30), Dr Mridupawan Saikia, secretary, IAP also warned against administration of antibiotics without consulting doctors. The theme for this year�s ORS week is �ORS � the only right solution for Diarrhoea�.
Dr Saikia asserted that the fight against diarrhoea has to be intensified as it is the second leading cause of death among children under the age of five years in India after pneumonia. In Assam too, the scenario is no different.
Dr Debojit Sarma of IAP said that over-dependence on antibiotics too is a cause of concern and a greater awareness is required to do away with the practice.
�In case ORS is not available, home-made solution with the right amount of sugar, salt and water can be very effective,� opined Dr Sarma.
Dr Gayatri Bezboruah, head of the department, Gauhati Medical College and Hospital (GMCH) dwelt on the hygiene aspect and stated that the prevalence of the disease is more in char areas as the level of awareness is abysmally low in such pockets.
�Hygienic household practices can go a long way in reducing the child mortality rate,� she added.
