Control study of oral rehydration solution (ORS) /ORS + dioctahedral smectite in hospitalized Thai infants with acute secretory diarrhea
Vivatvakin, B.; Jongpipatvanich, S.; Harikul, S.; Eksaengri, P.; Lortholary, O.
Southeast Asian Journal of Tropical Medicine and Public Health 23(3): 414-419
1992
ISSN/ISBN: 0125-1562 PMID: 1488694 Document Number: 399165
Dioctahedral smectite (DS) is a non-systemic antidiarrhoeal agent; it has been shown in an animal model to be mucoprotective and to absorb enterotoxins and rotavirus (relevant references are quoted). The authors have assessed the efficacy of oral DS (in conjunction with oral rehydration solution (ORS)) in infants (age 1-24 months) suffering from acute secretory diarrhoea-accompanied by mild or moderate dehydration-at Bangkok, Thailand. The dose regimen for DS was: 1.5 g at commencement of rehydration, followed by 1.5 g at 12, 8, and 6 h in those weighing <3, 4-10, and 11-15 kg, respectively; minimum and maximum treatment times were 48 and 120 h, respectively. The patients were randomly divided into 2 groups: 30 received ORS alone and 32 ORS plus DS; they were comparable for ages, weight, nutritional status, and duration of symptoms. Mean duration of diarrhoea was 84.7 +or- 48.5 (20-240) and 43.3 +or- 25.1 (22-120) h in the 2 groups, respectively (P = 0.001); also fewer of those receiving DS had diarrhoea on days 1 (P< 0.01) and 3 (P = 0.001), respectively. In those not on DS, 8 (27%) still had diarrhoea on day 5 compared with 1 (3%) of those who did (P = 0.01). Those infants on DS suffered from vomiting and 2 from "hardened stools", but there were no other significant side-effects. It is concluded that DS is safe in this patient group, in whom it shortens the duration of acute secretory diarrhoea and "may reduce the occurrence of prolonged diarrhoea".G.C. Cook.