DEHYDRATION

Diarrhoea is the second leading cause of death among children under the age of five, after pneumona. Worldwide, over two million children die each year due to diarrhoeal diseases, two-thirds of whom live in developing countries.

Diarrhoea accounts for spproximately 23 per cent of all deaths among children between the ages of zero to five with 80 percent of these deaths occurring in the first two years of life.

one of the many factors that increase the risk of childhood disrrhoea is the faliure to breastfeed exclusively for the first few months of life Breastfeeding provides a natural protection and immunity against diarrhoea in children. Studies have shown that children who are exclusively breastfed during the first few minths of life are less prone to diarrhoea.

Low birth weight and malnourishment also contribute to diarrhoea, since these can decrease immunity among children and delay the recovery process. Children with low immunity are more prone recurring eposides of dirrhoea, which