The authors evaluated the drinking regime of a group of 922 children and adolescents aged 6 - 18 years. They evaluated a total of 675 healthy children and adolescents and 247 chronically ill children. For evaluation they used a questionnaire of fluid consumption, the WHO nutritional score, a questionnaire of preferences of beverages and a questionnaire on physical activity. The authors found that the fluid intake is low in all children without a marked difference between healthy and chronically sick children. Evaluation according to age groups and schools revealed the best results in nursery school children and the greatest shortcomings were recorded in apprentices. Relatively satisfactory were the preferences of beverages where the probands allocated the first place to tea without specification of type. No difference was found in the fluid intake in relation to season. The results of evaluation of the WHO nutritional score are alarming. The authors found that the composition of the diet of the investigated children is unbalanced and frequently calls for profound changes.

        Key words: fluid intake of children, type of beverage, WHO score