A clinical trial was conducted in order to prove the efficacy of a solution containing 50 g/1 of plantain flour and 3. 5 g/1 of sodium chloride (NaCl) for the rehydration of children with acute diarrheal diseases. 121 children were given WHO‐ORS (Group A) and 117 a plantain flour‐based solution (Group B). Rehydration was successful in 85. 9% in Group A and 88. 0% in Group B ( p = 0. 634). Rehydration was completed in 5. 28 h (SD 1. 99) in Group A and in 4. 88 h (SD 2. 11) in Group B ( p = 0. 132). The average solution intake for rehydration was 24. 56ml/kg/h (SD 10. 12) in Group A and 21. 17ml/kg/h (SD 9. 35) in Group B ( p = 0. 00782). The mean stool output during rehydration was 8. 45g/kg/h (SD 9. 72) in Group A and 4. 69 g/kg/h (SD 4. 98) in Group B ( p = 0. 00053). Decrease in blood levels of sodium and potassium occurred in some children in group B. The plantain flour‐based solution proved effective for the treatment of dehydration due to acute diarrheal diseases and should be considered as an alternative when standard WHO‐ORS is not available.