Evaluation of oral hypo-osmolar glucose-based and rice-based oral rehydration solutions in the treatment of cholera in children

In a randomized controlled clinical trial, the efficacy of a low-sodium low -glucose oral rehydration solution (ORS) and a low-sodium rice-based ORS wa s compared with standard WHO glucose ORS in the treatment of severe cholera in children aged 2-10 y. In total, 120 children were evaluated for the stu dy, of whom 58 patients were positive for Vibrio cholerae and were included in the study, Of these 58 cases, 19 received rice-based hypo-osmolar ORS, 20 received WHO-ORS and 19 received glucose-based hypo-osmolar ORS. The cli nical characteristics (age, pre admission duration of diarrhoea, frequency of stool before admission, incidence of vomiting, body weight and volume of initial fluid requirement) were comparable in the three treatment groups. All patients received tetracycline in a dose of 50 mg/kg/d of body weight i n 4 divided doses for 3 d. Conclusions: Patients who-received rice-based hypo-osmolar ORS had subseque ntly reduced (p < 0.05) stool output, ORS consumption and diarrhoea duratio n than the patients who received either WHO-ORS or glucose-based hypo-osmol ar ORS.