Sucrose in oral therapy for cholera and related diarrhoeas
Nalin, D.R.
Lancet 1(7922): 1400-1402
1975
ISSN/ISBN: 0140-6736 PMID: 49561 Document Number: 517481
Eighteen patients, with severe dehydration due to diarrhoea and vomiting, were initially rehydrated intravenously to restore fluid and electrolyte balance, pulse and blood pressure to normal values. Intravenous fluids were then reduced and solutions containing sucrose 38 or 48 g/litre were given by mouth or by nasogastric tube. Tetracycline 250 mg was given by mouth every 6 h for 4 days from the start of sucrose ingestion. It proved possible to maintain 15 patients by this method; in the other 3, because of massive increases in net fluid losses with increasing plasma specific gravity, the sucrose treatment was stopped. Twelve patients excreted significant amounts of reducing sugars in faeces. It is concluded that glucose by mouth must continue to be preferred for treatment of cholera and related diarrhoeal diseases.