Diarrhoea is usually a symptom of bacterial, viral or parasitic infections contracted through eating contaminated food or drinking polluted water, or through bodily contact.
Diarrhoea is the second most common cause of death in children under the age of five, accounting for 760,000 child deaths a year (source WHO). More than half of these deaths occur in India, Nigeria, Pakistan and Ethiopia.
Diarrhoeal diseases form a vicious circle with malnutrition: persistent (or repeated) diarrhoea can lead to malnutrition, which in turn increases susceptibility to infectious diarrhoea. The child’s immune system is weakened, threatening long-term physical and cognitive development.
To treat diarrhoea, the WHO recommends the oral administration of zinc and rehydration salts.
Our integrated approach aims to improve nutrient absorption capacity and protect the immune system by :
- Preventing the risk of infection (diarrhoea, intestinal parasites, etc.) by providing access to drinking water (Aquatabs®);
- Complementary treatment with oral rehydration salts (ORS) to reduce the duration and severity of diarrhoea and help prevent new episodes (Zincfant®);
- Specific rehydration for severely malnourished patients (ReSoMal) for whom standard ORS is not suitable.
