A under 2 -year-old child presents with acute diarrhea but shows no signs of dehydration. Oral Rehydration Solution (ORS) is prescribed. How much ORS should be given after each loose stool?

1. A

   50–100 mL

2. B

   30–50 mL

3. C

   100–200 mL

4. D

   200–300 mL

Appeared in: NORCET 10 Prelims-2026

Explanation

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• The question asks for the correct ORS volume for a < 2-year-old child with diarrhea but no dehydration.
• According to WHO Treatment Plan A, the goal is to prevent dehydration by replacing lost fluids.
• For children under 2 years of age (up to 24 months), the recommended amount of ORS after each loose stool is 50–100 mL.
• A 2-year-old child falls into this category, making 50-100 mL the correct dosage.

Why Other Options Were Wrong

• Option B: This volume is insufficient to adequately replace fluid losses from diarrhea in a 2-year-old, which could lead to the development of dehydration.
• Option C: This dosage is intended for children in the age range of 2 to 10 years. The patient is exactly 2 years old, which falls under the 'under 2 years' or '<24 months' guideline.
• Option D: This is an excessive amount of fluid for a 2-year-old child after a single loose stool and could lead to vomiting or fluid overload.

Related Visual

Clinical Relevance

• Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Oral Rehydration Therapy (ORT) for acute diarrhea in children without dehydration as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
• Accurate fluid management is a critical nursing responsibility in pediatric diarrhea to prevent progression from no dehydration to severe dehydration, which can be life-threatening.
• Nurses play a vital role in educating caregivers on the '4 Rules of Home Care': Give extra fluids, give zinc supplements, continue feeding, and know when to return to the health facility.
• What if? If the 2-year-old child started showing signs of 'some dehydration' (e.g., restlessness, sunken eyes, drinking eagerly), the treatment would shift to WHO Plan B, which involves giving a calculated amount of ORS (approx. 75 mL/kg) over a 4-hour period under supervision.

How to Approach the Question

• First, identify the key clinical parameters from the question: patient's age (2 years old), diagnosis (acute diarrhea), and severity (no signs of dehydration).
• Recall the WHO treatment plans for diarrhea. 'No signs of dehydration' directly points to Treatment Plan A.
• Access your knowledge of Treatment Plan A, which focuses on preventing dehydration by replacing ongoing losses.
• Focus on the specific dosage guidelines within Plan A, which are stratified by age.
• Match the patient's age (2 years) to the correct age bracket in the guidelines. The bracket for children 'under 2 years' or '<24 months' is the most appropriate.
• Select the option that corresponds to the recommended ORS volume for that age group (50–100 mL).

Concept Tested & Keywords

• Concept Tested: Oral Rehydration Therapy (ORT) for acute diarrhea in children without dehydration.
• Stem keywords: < 2-year-old child, acute diarrhea, no signs of dehydration, Oral Rehydration Solution, ORS, loose stool
• Lead-in keywords: How much
• Clinical cues: Patient age: < 2 years old - this is a key determinant for dosage.
• Clinical cues: Hydration status: No signs of dehydration - this indicates the use of WHO Treatment Plan A.

Question ID

QzP08Z78ZoIv0Gniz2SFoF

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Reference Book

E6 Ghai Essential Pediatrics(pp 26-904 of 913) p. 312-314

E6 Parks TextBook of Preventive & Social Medicine part 1 — Subpart B (pp 202-403 of 604) p. 80-82