Diarrhea is Taking the Lives of 4,500 Children Everyday

Globally, more than 10 million children under the age of five die every
year, with the majority of deaths occurring in developing countries.
Nearly 20 percent of these deaths — 2.2 million — are due to mostly
preventable diarrheal disease from unsafe water and lack of basic
sanitation and hygiene. This represents about 4,500 children dying
every day — more than the number of children who die from malaria,
AIDS, and TB combined.

Children in developing countries suffer from an average of three
episodes of diarrhea every year, and nearly 20 out of every 1,000 die of
diarrhea-related dehydration before they reach their second birthday.3
Diarrhea results in 1 billion episodes of illness every year, and in some
regions, it accounts for more than 30 percent of all hospital admissions
of children.4 Ongoing bouts with diarrhea can also result in diminished
productivity and missed opportunities for education.

Virtually all child deaths associated with diarrhea from dehydration can
be avoided through proven and effective solutions, such as the improved
availability and use of oral rehydration therapy (ORT). ORT can
prevent about 90 percent of child deaths from dehydration. This simple,
costeffective treatment can be given at home using either packets of
oral rehydration salts (ORS), which cost about 10 cents each; or a home
solution of sugar, salt, and water.5

Diarrhea can also be prevented through exclusive breastfeeding,
improved weaning practices, measles immunization, increasing the
availability of clean water, and improving sanitation and hygiene.6 Lowcost,
simple, and straightforward approaches such as these, along with
access to good primary health care for mother and newborn, could save
millions of lives each year.

For more information, visit us at www.child-survival.org.