Rehydration Therapy

There are three phases of rehydration therapy. The first phase,  called the rehydration phase, is used to replace the salt and water loss  the child has sustained from the beginning of the illness until the  diagnosis of dehydration. This phase usually lasts one to six hours.

The second phase, called the maintenance phase, lasts 12 to 18 hours  with the goal to replace the ongoing loss of salt and water from the  child’s body as a consequence of diarrhea with or without vomiting.

The final phase, called the reintroduction of food phase, continues  until the child is fully recovered. The fluids used for rehydration  therapy are made specifically to replace salt and water loss as a  consequence of dehydration. They are made from sugar, salt and water  mixed in the proper proportions to allow the body to absorb. Rehydration  therapy fluids (e.g. Pedialyte®, Rehydrate®, Infalyte®) are usually  readily available in grocery stores and pharmacies. You should not  attempt to mix up a salt solution at home or give your child under 2  years of age large amounts of plain water.