Table 3

The costs incurred in treating patients of acute diarrhea in treatment and control group, in Rupees (1$ = 36 Rs, 1996)

Cost Components

Treatment (mean ± SE)

Control (mean ± SE)

P value

Direct medical cost (Patient)

23.6 ± 7

17.3 ± 6

0.5

- Visiting fees

15.9 ± 6

6.9 ± 5

0.2

- Medicines

8 ± 4

9.1 ± 5

0.5

Direct medical cost(Government)

309.4 ± 34

351.7 ± 39

0.4

- Cost of out-patient visits

3.5 ± 1

2.6 ± 1

0.2

- Cost of hospital stay

195.3 ± 25

238.7 ± 32

0.2

- Cost of ORS used

15.7 ± 6

15 ± 4

0.7

- Cost of antibiotics used

11.1 ± 4

18.6 ± 6

0.4

- Cost of Intravenous fluids used

10.8 ± 3

17.7 ± 6

0.3

- Cost of laboratory test

90.2 ± 11

93.4 ± 9

0.6

Direct non-medical cost

100.7 ± 11

97.5 ± 12

0.7

- Travel costs

85.9 ± 10

76.8 ± 8

0.4

- Other costs

14.7 ± 4

20.7 ± 6

0.3

Indirect costs

47.5 ± 11

53.9 ± 12

0.7

Total cost of diarrhea

481.25 ± 44

520.6 ± 54

0.6

Patel et al. Cost Effectiveness and Resource Allocation 2003 1:7   doi:10.1186/1478-7547-1-7