Oral Therapy of Neonates and Young Infants with World Health Organization Rehydration Packets (original) (raw)

Journal of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition, 1986

Abstract

The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends an oral rehydration solution (ORS) that has been linked with a risk of hypernatremia in young infants when extra water or dilute milk is withheld. A controlled, randomized study was therefore undertaken in 50 male infants aged 0-3 months to evaluate the relative safety, efficacy, and practicability of two methods of obviating this risk without negating the concept of a universal rehydrating packet. Twenty-five infants in Group A were rehydrated with a 2:1 regimen (two parts, i.e., 60 ml, WHO-ORS followed by one part, i.e., 30 ml, plain water in an alternating manner) whereas 25 infants in Group B received diluted WHO-ORS (1.5 L water instead of 1 L). In two patients, one in each group, oral therapy failed and they were excluded from analysis. Sub-Group Ac was comprised of 15 cases in Group A in whom the rehydrating instructions were followed correctly. Diluted WHO-ORS provided as safe and effective rehydration as the 2:1 regimen administered properly (sub-Group Ac). Both methods adequately corrected and maintained the hydration status and serum sodium levels, but a few infants in each group had subnormal serum K+/HCO-3 levels during therapy. Rehydrating instructions in Group A were misinterpreted in nine (37.5%) cases. Excessive ORS intake in five infants resulted in hypernatremia (three cases, 12.5%), periorbital edema (three cases, 12.5%), excessive irritability (two cases, 8.3%), and mild pedal edema (one case, 4.2%). Excessive water intake in comparison to ORS in four infants was responsible for delayed rehydration (three cases, 12.5%) and asymptomatic hyponatremia and hypokalemia (two cases, 8.3%).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

santosh bhargava hasn't uploaded this paper.

Let santosh know you want this paper to be uploaded.

Ask for this paper to be uploaded.