Oral rehydration with a plantain flour-based solution in children dehydrated by acute diarrhea: a clinical trial |
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| Authors: | MM Arias,GM Alcará z,C. Bernal,G. Gonzá lez |
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| Affiliation: | Faculty of Nursing, University of Antioquia, Medellín, Colombia;Department of Pediatrics and Puericulture, University of Antioquia, Medellín, Colombia;Faculty of Medicine and National Faculty of Public Health, University of Antioquia, Medellín, Colombia |
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| Abstract: | A clinical trial was conducted in order to prove the efficacy of a solution containing 50 g/1 of plantain flour and 3. 5 g/1 of sodium chloride (NaCl) for the rehydration of children with acute diarrheal diseases. 121 children were given WHO-ORS (Group A) and 117 a plantain flour-based solution (Group B). Rehydration was successful in 85. 9% in Group A and 88. 0% in Group B ( p = 0. 634). Rehydration was completed in 5. 28 h (SD 1. 99) in Group A and in 4. 88 h (SD 2. 11) in Group B ( p = 0. 132). The average solution intake for rehydration was 24. 56ml/kg/h (SD 10. 12) in Group A and 21. 17ml/kg/h (SD 9. 35) in Group B ( p = 0. 00782). The mean stool output during rehydration was 8. 45g/kg/h (SD 9. 72) in Group A and 4. 69 g/kg/h (SD 4. 98) in Group B ( p = 0. 00053). Decrease in blood levels of sodium and potassium occurred in some children in group B. The plantain flour-based solution proved effective for the treatment of dehydration due to acute diarrheal diseases and should be considered as an alternative when standard WHO-ORS is not available. |
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| Keywords: | Dehydration diarrhea oral rehydration plantain flour |
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