Rapid Responses to:

EDITORIALS:
George J Fuchs
A better oral rehydration solution?
BMJ 2001; 323: 59-60 [Full text]
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[Read Rapid Response] Perception
David E Bratt   (15 July 2001)

Perception 15 July 2001
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David E Bratt,
Self employed
Trinidad, West Indies

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Re: Perception

You repeatedly touched on the major problem with ORT: "does not visibly reduce the severity of diarrhoea"; "misguided perceptions of the lack of efficacy of oral rehydration solution". The problem is one of perception. The solution is to address the problem of perception. We have done this to a certain extent in Trinidad by repeatedly stressing in both the media and face to face with the mothers, that what is important is not what is coming out, but what is going in and how the child looks after drinking ORS.

Promoting two different formulas is interesting but may be dangerously confusing to many. To do so will need a new public education campaign. Back to education again. We had better be sure that the mothers agree stool output is really reduced before changing.