[Oral rice-based rehydration solution (SRO), alternative of SRO of WHO in acute diarrhea in malnourished patients]

Abstract

Background: Although malnutrition is frequently associated with diarrhea, most oral rehydration solutions have been tested in well-nourished children. The study tests efficacy of rice, a traditional treatment for diarrhea in Madagascar.

Patients and methods: 150 severely malnourished children, aged 6 months to 3 years, took part in this randomized trial. All the children were given oral rehydration solution, (100 ml/kg) in the first 6 hours. The first group (68 children) was given a solution containing glucose, (20 g/l). The second group (82 children) was given a solution containing rice powder (50 g/l). Treatment was then continued according to WHO recommendations, including feeding after rehydration (mixture of milk, oil and sugar).

Results: The age, weight, height, duration of diarrhea before admission, degree of dehydration and pathogens in stools of the two groups were comparable on admission. Only 2 patients were withdrawn from the trial. The percentage of death was the same in both groups: 16% of those given glucose and 15% of those given rice-based rehydration solution. The weight gains were similar in both groups; the duration of diarrhea was 89 +/- 6 hours in the glucose-fed groups and 68 +/- 4 hours for those given the rice-based rehydration solution (p < 0.02).

Conclusions: Both glucose and rice-based rehydration solutions are equally effective for rehydrating severely malnourished children with acute diarrhea. The rice-based rehydration solution also reduces the duration of diarrhea.