Table 1 Base-line Demogrpahic Characteristics and Features of the Diarrheal Episode with Respect to Study Group*

Age in months

21.2 ± 14.2

21.4 ± 13.7

0.8

Male sex (%)

58.8

48.9

0.16

Monthly income

Rs.1497 ± 1719

Rs.1436 ± 1428

0.62

No. of children in the family

2.0 ± 0.9

2.1 ± 0.9

0.4

Educational status of mother

   Illiterate(%)

12.7

23.4

0.11

   Primary

7.8

12.2

   Middle

14.7

14.2

   High

42.1

37.7

   College

22.5

12.2

Child's diet (%)

   Predominantly breast fed

15.6

21.4

0.4

   Predominantly formula fed

5

3

   Both

1

3

   Other solid foods

78.4

72.6

Immunization status (%)

   Unimmunized

3.9

7.1

0.4

   Incomplete

14.7

10.2

   Complete

81.3

82.6

Weight (KG)

8.2 ± 2.2

7.8 ± 2.1

0.2

Height (CMS)

77.3 ± 10.9

75.8 ± 9.9

0.3

Wasting (%)

58.2

51

0.3

   Duration of diarrhea before enrollment(days)

2.2 ± 1.4

2.2 ± 1.3

0.8

No. of stools in the previous 24 hr

9.9 ± 6.3

9.3 ± 7.1

0.5

Vomiting in 24 hr before enrollment (%)

61.7

55.1

0.3

Fever during this episode(%)

39.2

37.6

0.8

Dehydration (%)

   No

85.2

82.6

0.8

   Some

11.7

14.2

   Severe

2.9

3

Type of stool

   Watery or mucoid

89.3

87.8

0.2

   Bloody

10.7

12.2

Hospitalized (%)

57.8

66

0.2