8 shows the daily RDA based on the RENI for babies and toddlers. Note that proteia powders are recommended in place of whole milk, meat and poultry as bodybuilding foods. Meat and poultry are \Jsually more costly and not as easily chewed as protein powders by infants and toddlers. Considering the price of commerc ia1faed whole milk, protein powders made from less expensive, locally available food sources of protein are considered as appropriate technology option. The daily RENl from protein powders and other foods can be divided into several feedings. Infants ant. I toddlers may need to be fed more frequently than older children and adults consider ing the capacity of their stomach. Certain behavioral characteristics such as short attention span and preoccupation with new found freedom due to increasing locomotor development among older infants and toddlers may decrease their interest lo finish a serving full of foocl in one meal time. APPROPRIATE HOME MANAGEMENT OF DIARRHEA Many families believe that it is wrong to feed their children suffering from diarrhea. They have noticed that the diarrhea seems to stop sooner if their children are not given food. As ex-plained earlier, starving a child with diarrhea makes his nutritional state worse and he will have more attacks of diarrhea later. Families need to know that the two-part oral therapy of fluids and food can prevent many hospital adnuss ions and many deaths from b_oth dehydration and mulnutrition. Adequate fluids must be given as soon as the child first begins to pass diarrhea stools. At this time, extra fluids such as water, fruit juices, soups, milk or whatever the child drinks can replace the ones lost due Lo diarrhea. When rehydration is not started before the child begins lo show visible signs of dehydratio n, the amount of oral rehydration solution (ORS) containing sugar and salts that must be given is determined by the degree of dehydration and the weight of the child. The guideline s are described below (Cutting and Savage 1981, pp. 4-16): Mild dehydration (5%)-characterized by thirst, dry mouth, less urine, weight loss: Give 50 m J. ORS/kg. body weight in 4-6 hour~. · Moderate dehydration (5-9%)-characterized by sunken fontanelle (for babies less than 1 year old), sunken eyes, rapid deep breathing, Joss of skin elasticity: Give 75 ml. ORS/kg. in 4-6 hours. Severe dehydration (10% or more) characterized by weak pulse, cya. ilosis, cold limbs and/or coma: Give 100 ml. ORS/leg. in 4-6 hours. May need rv fluids and hospita1i7. atio n. If a child needs to go to the hospital give him oral fluids on the way if he is conscious. With ORS be will not be so seriously ill when he gets to the hospital. · While diarrhea continues ORS must be given in the same volume as the fluid lost in the stools. If the eyelids become puffy, stop giving the ORS and continue giving other fluids. Start ORS again when puffiness is gone and if diarrhea continues. If rehydrati on is slowed up by some vomiting, additional replacement fluid must be given. Diarrhea due to infection is the body's reaction to get rid of the toxins produced by microorganis ms. With diarrhea the toxins are washed away from the body. Drugs that aim to stop diarrhea are not encouraged because these result in the absorption of the toxins. ORS does not stop the diarrhea, which may continue for some days. However, ORS reduces the danger of diarrhea (dehydration) because it replaces the essential 352 