Bangladeshi rural mothers prepare safer rice oral rehydration solution.
Mothers in rural Bangladesh were trained to prepare and use either Rice-ORS (R-ORS) or Glucose-ORS (G-ORS) solutions to treat children with diarrhoea. Families were provided with either G-ORS or R-ORS of the same electrolyte composition through a depot holder. Subsequently, random samples of solutions actually used for treatment by the mothers were collected from homes by field workers. A total of 227 R-ORS and 239 G-ORS samples were analysed. The sodium concentration in about 90% of the samples had a safe range (50-120 mmol/l). Only 4% of R-ORS solutions were above 120 mmol/l in sodium concentration, while 12% of G-ORS solutions exceeded these limits (p < 0.0025). R-ORS (after acid hydrolysis) provided significantly higher glucose (257 +/- 42 mmol/l) for active but safe absorption compared to G-ORS (115 +/- 39 mmol/l). To make R-ORS liquid enough to drink requires addition of sufficient water, preventing the risk of higher sodium concentration. Unlike rice starch, glucose is a highly soluble substance. It is thus possible to prepare a drinkable solution containing dangerously high concentrations of both sodium and glucose, but this can be minimized by more intensive training of the mothers.
Molla
A M
AM
Department of Paediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Kuwait University, Safat. majid@hse.kuniv.edu.kw
Bari
A
A
Greenough
W B
WB
Molla
A M
AM
Budhiraja
P
P
Sharma
P N
PN
D001459:Bangladesh; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D005440:Fluid Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D005947:Glucose / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D012275:Oryza / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008517:Phytotherapy; D011188:Potassium / Q000032:analysis; D012307:Risk Factors; D012424:Rural Population; D012964:Sodium / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D012996:Solutions / Q000737:chemistry
D012996:Solutions; D012964:Sodium; D005947:Glucose; D011188:Potassium