Is oral rice-based electrolyte solution superior to glucose electrolyte solution in acute chidhood diarrhoea?

ABSTRACT

In a controlled trial of oral rehydration therapy, the efficacy and safety of rice-based electrolyte solution was compared with standard WHO oral rehydration solution. Ninety eight male children aged 4 months to 10 years presenting with watery diarrhoea of less than 72 hours prior to hospitalization were studied. 48 were treated with standard WHO oral rehydration solution (ORS) and 50 patients with an improved formulation which contained 100 gm of rice (instead of glucose) with 25 mg of amylase in addition to electrolytes. The clinical characteristics of the two groups on, admission were comparable. Although there was a consistent trend towards reduction in stool volume and better gain in body weight in children with cholera treated with rece-based ORS, significant difference was noted only in 6-12 hour stool output and in the first 6 hour weight gain. Stool volume was significantly reduced during the 24 to 48 hour perild in all diarrhoeal patients receiving rice-based ORS. Thus, amylyte digested rice-based ORS is as effective as the Standard WHO ORS and have some therapeutic advantage in the treatment of acute childhood diarrhoea.