title: Folic acid in the treatment of acute watery diarrhoea in children: a double-blind, randomized, controlled trial.
abstract: One-hundred and six male children aged 6-23 months with a history of acute watery diarrhoea of less than 72 h duration were randomized to receive either folic acid in a dose of 5 mg at 8-h intervals or placebo for 5 d. There were 54 children in the folic acid group and 52 in the placebo group. The admission characteristics were comparable between the two groups. No significant differences were observed in the intake of oral rehydration solution or stool output between the groups. The mean+/-SD of total stool output (g kg(-1)) was 532+/-476 vs 479+/-354 and the duration (h) of diarrhoea was 108+/-68 vs 103+/-53 in the folic acid vs placebo group, respectively. The findings, therefore, should have a positive influence on preventing the inappropriate use of folic acid in acute diarrhoea.
authors.affiliation: International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh, Dhaka.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ashraf
authors.forename: M M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Rahman
authors.forename: G J
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Fuchs
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Mahalanabis
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000628:therapy*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005440:Fluid Therapy; D005492:Folic Acid / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006397:Hematinics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D006397:Hematinics; D005492:Folic Acid