ABSTRACT
Background: Oral rehydration salt [ORS] solution has reduced childhood deaths from diarrhea. Recent studies suggest that ORS solutions with reduced osmolarity may be more effective. However, there is concern about hyponatremia with reduced osmolarity ORS. Objectives: To compare the serum sodium level before and after the use of reduced osmolarity ORS solution in children with acute watery diarrhea [AWD]
Patients and Methods: This comparative cross sectional study was conducted in the Department of Paediatrics Unit-I, King Edward Medical University/ Mayo Hospital, Lahore from March to August 2009. Sample was collected by non probability purposive sampling. After consent, a total of 100 children of age 2 to 60 months, consistent with clinical case definition of AWD [passage of 3 or more loose stools/day with duration of less than 14 days] were enrolled. Those children with severe dehydration or having clinical evidence of systemic infection were excluded from the study. Each child was offered reduced osmolarity ORS solution. Serum sodium level was measured before and 6 hour after use of ORS. Data was entered in SPSS 17 and paired sample t-test was applied to compare serum sodium level before and after use of ORS
Results: Mean serum sodium level before and 6 hour after use of reduced osmolarity ORS solution was 133+/-3.4mEq/L and 133+/-2.9mEq/L, respectively. There was statistically insignificant change in serum sodium level after use of reduced osmolarity ORS solution.[p value 0.173] Similar results were found for subgroups of age and gender
Conclusion: Reduced osmolarity ORS solution has no statistically significant risk of hyponatremia in children with AWD