PHA-Exchange> ORT ready made packets (2)

[Claudio]

> From: "Ted Greiner" <ted_greiner at hotmail.com>
>
> > While the promotion of ORS packets to the general populace is certainly
> the
> > standard approach, you are no doubt familiar with David Sanders' and
David
> > Werner's book "Questioning the solution" which rightly calls this into
> > question on several fronts.  I am particularly concerned that heavy
media
> > promotion of ORS can confuse mothers who may assume it prevents
diarrhea,
> > thus using it too much and too often. This is particularly dangerous for
> > young infants, since it interferes with exclusive breastfeeding and is
> even
> > likely to replace breast milk.
> >
> > Almroth and Latham (Almroth S, Latham MC. Rational home management of
> > diarrhoea. Lancet. 1995 Mar 18;345(8951):709-11) call into question the
> > current paradigm based on home use of ORS to PREVENT dehydration. They
> point
> > out that even with good training, many mothers make the solution too
> strong;
> > and that before dehydration occurs ORS campaigns may have the effect
> > (demonstrated in one study in Nicaragua) of disempowering mothers.
Instead
> > of using cheap available home fluids as soon as their babies get
diarrhea,
> > if they do not have access to ORS, they may feel helpless. Also, ORS
does
> > not taste good and thus may not be consumed in adequate quantities
before
> > children become dehydrated and thirsty enough to be willing to drink it.
> >
> > A better approach might be to teach mothers to use home fluids at the
> first
> > signs of diarrhea; teach them the early signs of dehydration; and
instruct
> > them to then quickly take the child to a health clinic to get properly
> > prepared ORS. WHO replied that they think it is too difficult to teach
> > mothers the signs of dehycration and require them to determine when a
> clinic
> > visit is called for.
> >
> > Of course one must also point out that such a visit is feasible nowadays
> > only for those lucky enough to still have access to a health center in
> > today's streamlined, efficient and globalized world where the way has to
> be
> > smoothed for business' needs to be met at all costs...
> >
> > Ted
>
>