Abstract

COMPARISON OF EFFECT OF REHYDRATION FLUIDS WITH DIFFERENT COMBINATIONS OF ISOTONIC SOLUTIONS IN CHILDREN WITH DEHYDRATION

Albin K. Mathew*, Kota Vinod Kumar, Umalakshmi V., S. Madhusudhan, Dr. S. Chidambaranathan

ABSTRACT

Aim: To investigate which of the combination of rehydration fluids are better when compared to each other in the management of dehydration in paediatric patients. Methodology: This study was conducted for a period of 6 months (November 2014 to April 2015) in RMMCH, a 1260 bedded tertiary care multispecialty hospital situated in southern India. The fluids considered were Ringer’s lactate solution (RL), normal saline (NS), dextrose 5 percentage water (D5%W) and oral rehydration solution (ORS). A total of 100 patients in age group of 2 to 12 years are enrolled of these 48 (GROUP A) received oral rehydration solution+ Ringer’s lactate solution, 38 (GROUP B) received oral rehydration solution+ Ringer’s lactate solution + dextrose 5 percentage water, 14 (GROUP C) received oral rehydration solution+ Ringer’s lactate solution + normal saline. The length of hospital stay, total fluid intake, total episodes of loose stools and vomiting and percentage weight gain were measured. Results: This study shown that GROUP B is the most effective combination which have reduced duration of illness, decreased episodes of loose stools and vomiting and increased percentage weight gain when compared with other combinations. Although GROUP A requires the less amount of fluid intake and it does not improve the duration of illness, episodes of loose stools and vomiting and percentage weight gain. Conclusion: Oral rehydration solution+ Ringer’s lactate solution + dextrose 5 percentage water is the most effective combination for the treatment of dehydration in children.

Keywords: oral rehydration therapy, dehydration, intravenous fluid therapy, acute gastroenteritis, acute diarrhoeal disease.