• Check your Understanding

  • You have completed Chapter 1: Clinical Overview. Answer the following questions to check your understanding of treatment, hydration and referral signs.

  • Q1. What is the first-line treatment for diarrhoea at any age?*

  • Correct: Oral Rehydration Salts

    The main risk from diarrhoea is dehydration, so replacing fluid and salts comes before any other treatment.

  • Incorrect! 

    Not quite. Oral rehydration salts are the first-line treatment for diarrhoea at every age because they replace the fluid and salts being lost.

  • Q2. A parent wants to add cordial to an oral rehydration solution because her child does not like the taste. What should you advise?*

  • Correct: Do not add anything; chill the solution or use ice blocks instead. 

    Nothing should be added to oral rehydration solution because it changes the balance of the mixture. Chilling it or using ice blocks can improve the taste without changing the solution.

  • Incorrect!

    Not quite. Cordial, juice, sugar or changing the amount of water can alter the solution and may make diarrhoea worse. Use plain water as directed.

  • Q3. A customer asks for something to stop diarrhoea in her 7-year-old child, who has had it since yesterday. What should you do?*

  • Correct: Refer the customer to the pharmacist. 

    Medicines that slow the bowel are not for children under 12. A child of this age with diarrhoea also needs pharmacist assessment.

  • Incorrect! Not quite. 

    Do not supply a medicine to stop diarrhoea to a child under 12. Refer the customer to the pharmacist.

  • Congratulations!

    You have succesfully completed Chapter 1. You can move to Chapter 2. Click on the first lesson of Chapter 2 from the left navigation panel. 

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