Samar Fatima Ijaz, Muhammad Faheem Afzal, Muhammad Ashraf Sultan.
Controlled trial of hypo-osmolar versus WHO-ORS solution in children with acute watery diarrhea.
Pak Paed J Jan ;36(1):3-6.

Objective: To compare the efficacy of hypo-osmolar versus WHO-ORS solution in children with acute watery diarrhea (AWD). Methods: A double blind, randomized controlled trial was conducted in the department of Pediatrics, King Edward Medical University / Mayo Hospital, Lahore from March to August 2009. After verbal consent, 330 children of age between 2 months to 12 years consistent with clinical case definition of AWD were enrolled. One hundred and sixty five children were randomized to receive hypo-osmolar ORS solution while other half to receive WHO standard ORS solution. Those children having 3rd degree malnutrition according to Gomez classification, severely dehydrated, having systemic infection and those who had already received intravenous fluids were excluded from the study. The information of effect of each method of treatment was followed for 6 hours. Efficacy of ORS and development of hyponatremia were outcome measures. Efficacy was measured in term purging rate, vomiting, and need for unscheduled IV fluids. Data was analyzed by SPSS 13 and Chi square test was applied on variables of outcome measures. Results: Total of 330 out of 500 children participated in the study; hence the response rate was 66%. Mean age of patients was 2.18 years. Male to female ratio was 1:1. Decrease in purging rate, and decreased need for unscheduled IV fluids during and after treatment were found to be statistically significant in group of patients using hypo-osmolar ORS. Development of hyponatremia and decrease in episodes of vomiting during study period were not statistically significant in both the groups. Conclusion: In children admitted with AWD receiving hypo-osmolar ORS has lower stool frequency and fewer unscheduled intravenous fluids when compared to standard WHO ORS. No significant risk of developing hyponatremia was observed.

PakMediNet -Pakistan's largest Database of Pakistani Medical Journals - http://www.pakmedinet.com