Children dehydrate very quickly by losing fluid and salts in the body due to diarrhea, fever, and vomiting. It is important to replace the fluids through any liquid the child will drink, and to continue to feed them the liquid.
Prepare the following rehydration drink and give at the onset of diarrhea. Mix together 1 teaspoon of table salt, 8 teaspoons sugar, and add to 5 cups of water (if you have time, sterilize the water by boiling it, but be sure to cool it before giving it to the child). Give 1 cup each time the child has a bowel movement, ½ cup for a smaller child. Spoon feed a baby. Let the child drink as much as they want. You can stop giving it as soon as the child stops having loose bowel movements or loses desire for the rehydration drink.
Seek help if the child displays symptoms of dehydration. If there is severe vomiting or if they will not drink. For babies, you should seek help immediately. The rehydration solution is for emergency use only; it is just to tide you over until you can seek medical help. Deaths from dehydration are common, so do not hesitate to conduct your physician.
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