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The Epic Interactive Encyclopedia 1998
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Epic Interactive Encyclopedia, The - 1998 Edition (1998)(Epic Marketing).iso
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D
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Diarrhoea
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INFOTEXT
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1992-09-02
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632b
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16 lines
Excessive action of the bowels so that the
faeces are fluid or semifluid. It is caused
by intestinal irritants (including some drugs
and poisons), infection with harmful
organisms (as in dysentery, salmonella, or
cholera), or allergies. Diarrhoea is the
biggest killer of children in the world. The
World Health Organization estimates that 4.5
million children die each year from
dehydration as a result of diarrhoeal disease
in Third World countries. It can be treated
by giving an accurately measured solution of
salt and glucose by mouth in large
quantities. Since most diarrhoea is viral in
origin, antibiotics are ineffective.