Oral glucose-electrolyte therapy for diarrhea: a means to maintain or improve nutrition?

Open Access
Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
Since over half of the children aged 5 years and under in the developing world suffer from mild-moderate malnutrition, means of correcting nutrition deficiencies are essential. In the case of the child with diarrhea, malnutrition is exacerbated by a number of disease-related factors including anorexia, cultural or medical withdrawal of food, and purgation. It was discovered, in a study among Apache children, that early and rapid replacemtnt of volume loss and correction of electrolyte imbalance using glucose-electrolyte solutions administered orally can restore physical well-being and appetite to children suffering from acute diarrhea, and hence enhance these children’s nutritional status. The solution recommended contained, in millimolar concentrations per liter: sodium, 81; potassium, 18; choride, 71; HC03, 28; and glucose, 139. A field trial of oral therapy for acute diarrhea in children is called for tod etermine the extent of effects on nutrition and mortality, as well as to indicate some of the cultural and logistical problems which remain to be solved.