[Analysis of 7843 outpatients with diarrhoea]

7843 outpatients with diarrhoea registered at clinical units of villages, townships and counties were analysed in August 20-30, 1988. Among those, 3129 (39.9%) cases were children under 5 years of age, and 18 (0.23%) with cholera, 2222 (28.33%) with dysentery, 122 (1.56%) with typhoid or paratyphoid fever and 5479 (69.88%) with other diarrhoea diagnosed by clinical symptoms. It was shown that the mediate or severe, mild and no dehydration was 5.37%, 26.97% and 66.66% respectively, and that the use rate of antibiotics, I.V. infusion, ORS and Chinese Herbs was 88.94%, 19.32%, 27.64% and 15.86% respectively. The conclusion elucidated that the high proportion of seeking medical services within 24 hours and few cases of mediate or severe dehydration were one of the reasons why there was low case-fatality of diarrhoea in China.