title: Maize-salt solution in the treatment of diarrhoea.
abstract: In a block-randomized trial we compared the efficacy of citrate-containing glucose electrolyte solution (GES) versus maize-salt solution (MSS) in the treatment of children with mild and moderate diarrhoeal dehydration and acidosis. One hundred and fifteen children aged 3-59 months were entered in the study; 56 received GES and 59 MSS. Fifty-one (91%) of the 56 children given GES and 52 (88%) of the 59 children given MSS were successfully rehydrated with improvement in metabolic acidosis within 24 h. Initial hypokalemia in children treated with maize-salt solution was not corrected during the first 24 h of therapy. The children were, however, clinically asymptomatic after treatment. Carefully prepared maize-salt solution may be used successfully in mild and moderate dehydration in the home, as an alternative to the preferred glucose electrolyte formula.
authors.affiliation: Kenya Medical Research Institute, Medical Research Centre, Nairobi.
authors.forename: P R
authors.initials: PR
authors.lastname: Kenya
authors.forename: H W
authors.initials: HW
authors.lastname: Ondongo
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Molla
authors.forename: J N
authors.initials: JN
authors.lastname: Muttunga
authors.forename: J N
authors.initials: JN
authors.lastname: Nato
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Juma
authors.forename: B N
authors.initials: BN
authors.lastname: Were
mesh_terms: D001639:Bicarbonates / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000097:blood / Q000628:therapy*; D005440:Fluid Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D005947:Glucose / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D011189:Potassium Chloride / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015532:Rehydration Solutions / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012965:Sodium Chloride / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014882:Water-Electrolyte Balance; D003313:Zea mays
chemical_list: D001639:Bicarbonates; D015532:Rehydration Solutions; C044142:World Health Organization oral rehydration solution; D012965:Sodium Chloride; D011189:Potassium Chloride; D005947:Glucose