[Oral rehydration with a plantain flour-based solution precooked with standardized electrolytes]

Abstract

Background: The success of oral rehydration therapy in cases of severe diarrheas have led to a need for locally based therapy preparations. A preparation consisting of a precooked plantain flour-based solution and standard rehydration electrolytes was examined for its effectiveness in treating dehydration, as well as its anti-diarrhoeal properties.

Methods: A sample of 101 children, ranging in age from 1 to 48 months, was selected, which had presented diarrhea for less than one week from onset, with mild dehydration and no associated complications. Fifty-four children received the ORS/WHO standard treatment, and 47 received a solution with electrolytes similar to ORS/WHO, containing 50 g of precooked plantain flour instead of glucose (ORS/plantain).

Results: Successful rehydration was achieved in 94.4% of the children in the ORS/WHO group and 91.5% in the ORS/plantain group (p = 0.70). Required time for rehydration was 5.8 (SD +/- 3.0) hours in the ORS/WHO group and 6.2 (SD +/- 3.7) hours in the ORS/plantain group (p = 0.31). Stool output during rehydration was 7.5 g/kg body weight/hour (SD +/- 7.6) in the ORS/WHO group, and 7.05 g/kg/hour (SD +/- 9.4) in the ORS/plantain group (p = 0.78). No significant differences were noted in the concentrations of plasma sodium. The observation period was 22.3 hours (SD +/- 5.3) for the ORS/WHO group and 22.7 hours (SD +/- 4.7) for the ORS/plantain group. Stool output during the observation period was 5.7 g/kg/hour (SD +/- 4.7) in the ORS/WHO group and 6.3 g/kg/hour (SD +/- 7.9) in the ORS/plantain group (p = 0.67). The proportion of children requiring intravenous fluids during the first 24 hours was 11.1% in the ORS/WHO group and 8.5% in the ORS/plantain group (RR = 1.31; 95% CI 0.39-4.35).

Conclusions: The plantain flour-based solution proved effective and safe in correcting dehydration; however the antidiarrhoeal properties of ORS/plaintain were not demonstrated.