Hypernatremic diarrheal dehydration treated with "slow" (12-hour) oral rehydration therapy: a preliminary report.

Thirty-five infants with hypernatremic diarrheal dehydration were given "slow" oral rehydration therapy, with deficits replaced over a period of 12 hours. A group of 24 infants received glucose-electrolyte solution for 8 hours, followed by plain water for 4 hours in a volume of 2:1; 11 other infants received equivalent volumes of glucose-electrolyte solution alone over 12 hours. Serum sodium concentrations fell to normal at similar rates in both groups. None of the 35 infants manifested convulsions. These preliminary results indicate that further evaluation of slow oral rehydration in infants with hypernatremic dehydration should be considered.