INACCURACY OF 3-FINGER PINCH METHOD OF DETERMINING SALT CONTENT IN HOMEMADE SUGAR SALT-SOLUTIONS

Oral rehydration therapy (ORT) has dramatically reduced the morbidity and mortality associated with acute infectious diarrhea. Commercial or al rehydration salt (ORS) solutions with sodium concentrations of 30-9 0 mmol/L are ideal for both the prevention and treatment of dehydratio n. However, logistic issues impede their universal availability and ho memade sugar salt (HSS) solutions are widely used in some areas of the world. The least accurate methods of preparing HSS solutions utilize a three-finger pinch of salt. The present study demonstrates the incon sistency and inaccuracy of this method among 15 health workers who par ticipated in an ORT training seminar conducted in a situation that app roximated field conditions. Similar studies with different subjects, i nstructions. and milieu describe results similar to those we obtained. In all studies, including the present one, a substantial number of th e solutions prepared by this method had dangerously high or low sodium concentrations. Health providers should consider the use of selected home-available fluids rather than HSS solutions for the prevention of dehydration in children with diarrhea However, ORS solutions should be used to correct established dehydration.