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A randomised control study was carried out in 27 children between the ages 2 and 5 years with acute watery diarrhoea by using 80 g rice powder per litre of ORS with electrolyte concentrations as recommended by WHO, and 25 matched patients, who were treated by WHO standard ORS, acted as controls. During the first 24 hours of treatment, the patients of both groups received only ORS and no food. During a subsequent 48-hour period, patients received ORS according to random allocation and were offered measured amounts of food ad libitum. The efficacy of ORS was assessed by calculating the amount of ORS consumed, reduction in stool output and vomiting, biochemical changes and gain in body weight, and the calorie balance from only ORS during the first 24 hours and from ORS plus food during the subsequent 48 hours was calculated. Patients treated by rice ORS consumed 50% less ORS, their stool output and vomiting were reduced by 50% and 75% respectively. The gain in body weight was similar in both groups, and the calorie balance from only ORS was significantly higher in the rice ORS group.