Abstract
The efficacy and safety of two types of oral replacement solutions (ORS) were tested in 65 children aged 6 months to 2 years, with histories of acute watery diarrhoea and dehydration of comparable severity. 40 children were maintained with ORS containing low sodium (60 m. mols/L) and 25 with ORS containing high sodium (120 m. mols/L) after initial intravenous rehydration. Hydration and electrolyte balance could be maintained in all children. Two children receiving ORS with 120 m. mols/L sodium developed hypernatremia. Children receiving ORS with high sodium excreted significantly more sodium in urine and stool after 24 & 48 hours of oral therapy. Despite the presence of effective homeostatic mechanism of the body, we do not recommended ORS with 120 m. mols/L. We still consider the WHO recommend ORS with 90 m. mols sodium/L as the appropriate oral solution for general use in all types of diarrhoea including cholera. However, a lower concentration of sodium in ORS would also be safe and effective for most of the non-cholera pediatric diarrhoeas.
Article PDF
Similar content being viewed by others
Avoid common mistakes on your manuscript.
References
Hirschhorn N, Kinzie JL, Sachar DB et al: Decrease in net stool output in cholera during intestinal perfusion with glucose-containing solutions. N E J M 279: 176, 1968
Nalin DR, Cash RA, Islam R, Molla M, Phillips RA: Oral maintenance therapy for cholera in adults. Lancet 2: 370, 1968
Hirschhorn N, McCarthy BJ, Ranney B et al: Ad libitum oral glucose-electrolyte therapy for acute diarrhoea in Apache children. J Pediatr 83: 562, 1973
Nalin DR, Cash RA: Oral or nasogastric maintenance therapy in pediatric cholera patients. J Pediatr 78: 355, 1971
Sack RB, Mitra CR, Merritt C et al: The use of oral replacement solutions in the treatment of cholera and other severe diarrhoeal disorders. Bull WHO 43: 351, 1970
Nalin DR, Cash RA: Oral or nosogastric maintenance therapy for diarrhoea of unknown aetiology resembling choiera. Trans R Soc Trop Med Hyg 64: 769, 1970
Molla AM, Rahman M, Sarker SA, Sack DA, Molla A: Stool electrolyte content and purging rates in diarrhea caused by rotavirus, enterotoxegenic E. coli, and V cholerae in children. J Pediatr 98: 835, 1981
Bart KJ, Finberg L: Single solution for oral therapy of diarrhoea (letter). Lancet 2: 633, 1976
Chatterjee A, Mahalnabis D, Jalan KN et al: Oral rehydration in infantile diarrhoea: controlled trial of a low sodium glucose electrolyte solution. Arch Dis Child 53: 284, 1978
Deyoung VR, Diamond EF: Possibility of iatrogenic factors responsible for hypernatremia in dehydrated infants. JAMA 173: 1806, 1960
Franz MN, Segar WF: The association of various factors and hypernatremic diarrhoeal dehydration. AM J Dis Child 97: 298, 1959
A manual for the treatment of acute diarrhoea. WHO/CDD/SER/80-2, 6 P
Pizarro D, Posada G, Mata L, Nalin D, Mohs E: Oral rehydration of neonates with dehydrating diarrhoeas. Lancet 2: 1209, 1979
Nalin DR, Harland E, Ramlal A et al: Comparison of low and high sodium and potassium content in oral rehydration solution. J Pediatr 97: 848, 1980
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Islam, M.R., Bardhan, P.K. & Rahman, M.M. A comparison of oral replacement solutions containing sodium in concentrations of 120 m mols/L and 60 m mols/L in paediatric diarrhoea. Indian J Pediatr 49, 349–355 (1982). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02834420
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02834420