Oral therapy in children with cholera: a comparison of sucrose and glucose electrolyte solutions
Sack, D.A.; Islam, S.; Brown, K.H.; Islam, A.; Kabir, A.K.; Chowdhury, A.M.; Ali, M.A.
Journal of Pediatrics 96(1): 20-25
1980
ISSN/ISBN: 0022-3476 PMID: 7350310 DOI: 10.1016/s0022-3476(80)80317-9Document Number: 450601
This study compared, in children with cholera-like severe diarrhea, an oral glucose-electrolyte solution with an oral sucrose-electrolyte solution in equimolar amounts (WHO formula) in a double-blind manner. Of 111 patients, 55 were given sucrose and 56 glucose solutions. An absence of the need to use unscheduled intravenous therapy defined the success rate, which was similar in both groups: 73 and 77%, respectively, in the sucrose and glucose groups. Purgation rates also showed no difference between groups. The main determinant of success for oral fluid regardless of the sugar used was the purging rate. 1 failure of therapy in the sucrose group was attributed to sucrose malabsorption. It is concluded that sucrose is an effective alternative to glucose for oral rehydration therapy, but if the diarrhea has caused severe dehydration before the start of treatment, intravenous supplementation must also be used.