Short answers, pulled from the story.
Diarrhea claimed 2.9 million lives in 1990 and was reduced to 1.53 million by 2019. It remains the second leading cause of death for children under five years old.
The World Health Organization defines diarrhea as having three or more loose or liquid bowel movements in a day. The main causes include lack of clean water, poor sanitation, and pathogens like rotavirus, cholera, and Shigella.
The World Health Organization recommends a ratio of one liter of water, one teaspoon of salt, and two tablespoons of sugar. This mixture allows the body to absorb water even when the gut is compromised.
Diarrhea accounted for 0.76 million deaths in 2012 and estimates suggest that 21% of child mortalities in developing countries are directly attributable to diarrheal disease.
The World Health Organization estimates that improvements in water supply and sanitation could reduce child mortality from diarrheal disease by 88%.
Studies in Brazil found that non-breastfed infants were 14 times more likely to die from diarrhea than exclusively breastfed infants. The World Health Organization recommends exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of an infant's life.