Rice-flour-based oral rehydration solution for diarrhoeal diseases.

Abstract

Dehydration and electrolyte imbalance, the main causes of morbidity and mortality in diarrheal diseases, have been treated with glucose-based oral rehydration solutions. However, there have been difficulties due to unavailability, cost and unpalatable solutions. 300 children, from age 4 weeks to 12 years, in Jaffna, Sri Lanka, were treated with rice-flour based oral rehydration solution (ORS). This solution was made by boiling 50g. rice flour with 1 liter water and adding a prepackaged salt packet. 50 grams of rice flour is hydrolyzed to produce 35 grams glucose, 4.35 grams protein and 165 kilocalories. 3 children required hospitalization for intravenous therapy, but the rest responded well to the rice flour based ORS. Diarrhea resolved within 2 to 4 days. The rice flour and salt packet together cost Sri Lanka Rs 1.50 (US$0.06), which is significantly less than the glucose based ORS, which costs Sri Lanks Rs 5.00 (US$0.20). Rice-flour based ORS was found to be an inexpensive, palatable, easily available, and an effective alternative to glucose-based formulas.