ABSTRACT
We examined whether replacing glucose with Peptilose into standard ORS would be advantageous over WHO-ORS. A study was carried out on 134 diarrheal children with mild to moderate dehydration. They received either WHO-ORS or Peptilose-ORS by randomized selection. In only two cases in each group, diarrhea was caused by Vibrio cholerae non 0-1. Significant per cent weight gain was observed in patients with Peptilose-ORS compared to those treated with WHO-ORS (P = 0.046). The patients could voluntarily take a higher amount of Peptilose-ORS and had significantly less stool output in the combined mildly and moderately dehydrated patients. It is concluded that Peptilose-ORS is more advantageous and acceptable than the standard WHO glucose-ORS for treatment of non cholera and 2 cases of cholera dehydrating diarrhea in children.