Actually....Breast milk alone in rehydration may be sufficient in the absence of any continuous losses, but I doubt it role if there is any diarrhea or vomiting especially in presence of electrolytes deficit. So I totally agree with your point of view & ORS still the cornerstone in mild to moderate dehydration.

Breast feed children often present with gastroenteritis in our country and often we use iv fluids in persisent vomiting cases

Breastfeeding alone is not sufficient in rehydration of infants with acute diarrhea with moderate dehydration. Low osmolar ORS 80 ml/kg is needed for correction of dehydration , also add additional ORS for ongoing losses (if any) and Zn 20 mg daily for 14 days must be supplemented

Acute GE with some dehydration warrants monitoring because the transition to severe dehydration is rapid if not managed properly. Breast milk alone will mostly not suffice to replace increasing losses, and definitely requires ORS. Also salts lost in large amounts in GE cannot be adequately replaced with breast feeding.

Breast milk alone will not suffice if there is dehydration of any recognisable degree. Oral rehydration solution has to be used while breast feeding continues. Where the vomiting is too frequent to ensure sufficient intake of fluids, intravenous fluid will be required. Remember the new born is a very fragile and vulnerable creature. Loss of small volumes of fluid may lead to severe dehydration vey quickly.

Dear Mr Chandar Kumar,

Zn should not be given to a neonate in Gastroenteritis

Yes, Dr Javed, I do agree.Thanks for pointing out. Actually the question was for newborns, but the discussion included infants beyond neonatal period. My answer was on those infants. Actually in newborns Gastroenteritis is sepsis until and unless ruled out, hence needs to be treated with IV fluid and antibiotics.