Antisecretory factor effectively and safely stops childhood diarrhoea: a placebo-controlled, randomised study.
OBJECTIVE
We studied the response to high doses of egg yolk containing antisecretory factor (B221® , Salovum®) in young children with acute diarrhoea, presenting to the Children's Hospital, Lahore, Pakistan.


METHODS
In a randomised, placebo-controlled trial, 36 children aged 7 to 60 months with acute diarrhoea of unknown aetiology, with mild-to-moderate dehydration, were randomised to the Salovum® or placebo groups. Initially, 16 grams of Salovum® or ordinary egg yolk (placebo) mixed in oral rehydration salts was given, followed by 8 g every 5 h until recovery. The number and consistency of stools were recorded.


RESULTS
The two groups were comparable in age, gender, duration of diarrhoea, hydration and nutritional status, although the proportion with watery stools was higher in the Salovum® group (p = 0.04). Reduction in the frequency of stools was seen at 7 versus 18 h (p < 0.0001) and normalising of stool consistency was 10 versus 18 h, p < 0.03) in the Salovum® and placebo groups. The overall effect was 35 versus 70 h in the two groups (p = 0.001). No side effects were reported.


CONCLUSIONS
High doses of AF in the form of Salovum® effectively and safely reduce childhood diarrhoea of a likely broad aetiology.
Children's Hospital and Institute of Child Health, Lahore, Pakistan.
Shakila
S
Zaman
Khalida
K
Aamir
Stefan
S
Lange
Eva
E
Jennische
Sven-Arne
SA
Silfverdal
Lars Å
LÅ
Hanson
D000208:Acute Disease; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000930:Antidiarrheals / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D009479:Neuropeptides / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010154:Pakistan; D016016:Proportional Hazards Models
D000930:Antidiarrheals; D009479:Neuropeptides; C049628:antisecretory factor
Antisecretory factor; Developing country; Diarrhoeal disease; Paediatric patients