Routine use in the treatment of all diarrhoeal states is not indicated. In most acute diarrhoeas they are unnecessary. They may prolong or worsen the diarrhoea associated with organisms that penetrate the intestinal mucosa i.e. toxigenic e.g. E. Coli, Salmonella, Shigella etc. Barbados is a signatory to the WHO policy on diarrhoeal diseases which encourages the use of Oral Rehydration Salts as the preferred treatment.
