Evaluation of a sucrose/electrolyte solution for oral rehydration in acute infantile diarrhoea

Abstract

An oral sucrose/electrolyte solution brought about complete hydration in 19 out of 20 consecutive children with a median age of 1 year with moderate to severe dehydration due to acute diarrhoea (1 child did not respond and needed intravenous therapy). Vomiting, abdominal distension, and appearance of sugar in the stools during oral hydration did not interfere with its success. A satisfactory response was shown by weight gain (mean +/- S.E. = 9-2 +/- 0-6%), restoration of plasma-bicarbonate to normal levels, falls in the haematocrit values and in the plasma specific gravity, and complete clinical recovery. Disaccharidases in jejunal mucosal biopsy specimens in the acute phase showed reduced lactase in 75% and reduced sucrase in 18%; maltase levels were adequate. Except for the child who did not respond, all showed a satisfactory rise of blood-sugar after sucrose and glucose tolerance tests. Sucrose is cheap and easily obtained; its use instead of glucose in electrolyte solutions would be a considerable gain.

PIP: 20 consecutive child admissions to a Calcutta, India, hospital with acute diarrhea and moderate to severe clinical dehydration were studied. They were treated with an oral sucrose/electrolyte solution, which achieved complete hydration in 19 out of the 20 cases; 1 child did not respond and needed intravenous therapy. Vomiting, abdominal distension, and appearance of sugar in the stools during oral therapy did not interfer with its success. A child was considered to have recovered when the body weight had stabilized and when there was no further diarrhea, a process requiring 5-6 days. In addition, recovery involved restoration of plasma-bicarbonate to normal levels, falls in the hematocrit values and in the plasma specific gravidity, and complete clinical recovery. Solutions of glucose/electrolytes have already been used in the treatment of acute diarrhea. Replacement of glucose with sucrose is preferable since it is less expensive and more readily available in developing areas. This study showed that replacement of the glucose with sucrose is as effective.