[Oral rice-based rehydration solution (SRO), alternative of SRO of WHO in acute diarrhea in malnourished patients].

BACKGROUND

Although malnutrition is frequently associated with diarrhea, most oral rehydration solutions have been tested in well-nourished children. The study tests efficacy of rice, a traditional treatment for diarrhea in Madagascar.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

150 severely malnourished children, aged 6 months to 3 years, took part in this randomized trial. All the children were given oral rehydration solution, (100 ml/kg) in the first 6 hours. The first group (68 children) was given a solution containing glucose, (20 g/l). The second group (82 children) was given a solution containing rice powder (50 g/l). Treatment was then continued according to WHO recommendations, including feeding after rehydration (mixture of milk, oil and sugar).

RESULTS

The age, weight, height, duration of diarrhea before admission, degree of dehydration and pathogens in stools of the two groups were comparable on admission. Only 2 patients were withdrawn from the trial. The percentage of death was the same in both groups: 16% of those given glucose and 15% of those given rice-based rehydration solution. The weight gains were similar in both groups; the duration of diarrhea was 89 +/- 6 hours in the glucose-fed groups and 68 +/- 4 hours for those given the rice-based rehydration solution (p < 0.02).

CONCLUSIONS

Both glucose and rice-based rehydration solutions are equally effective for rehydrating severely malnourished children with acute diarrhea. The rice-based rehydration solution also reduces the duration of diarrhea.