The effect of early glucose-electrolyte therapy in diarrhoea and growth in rural Gambian village children.

Abstract

Although breastfeeding is universally practiced in Gambia until 18 months of age diarrhea is still the most important nondietary cause of failure to thrive among children. This paper reports the results of a controlled study conducted to determine the effect of the domiciliary use of an oral glucose-electrolyte mixture administered by mothers to a group of young children (n=21) in a Gambian village within 24 hours of onset of diarrhea. Average number of days of diarrhea complained of by subjects (n=10) and controls (n=11) at time of visits were 4.5 (range 2 to 11) days and 8.6 (range 0 to 21) days respectively with the difference approaching significance at t=1.77 p < 0.0. The study concentrated on the age group in which diarrhea had maximum prevalence and greatest impact on growth. Mean age of subjects at start of study was 10.8 months and of controls 16.9 months; t=2.39 p < 0.05. The glucose-electrolyte mixture (Choloral) was well accepted by both mothers and children. Average gain in length in subjects was 34 mm. and in controls was 21 mm. This was significant at t=2.55 p approximately 0.02. Average weight gain in the 2 groups was not significant. There was a marked reduction of prevalence of diarrhea during the study period as a result of oral administration of the mixture within 24 hours of onset of diarrhea. It was suggested that in the weanling diarrhea syndrome early use of glucose electrolyte mixture may have little effect on growth unless accompanied by specific nutritional measures.