Related Experiment Videos
[Oral rehydration in newborns with dehydration caused by diarrhea]
F Mota-Hernández1, M L Rillman-Pinagel, L Velásquez-Jones
1Servicio de Hidratación Oral, Hospital Infantil de México Federico Gómez, México, D.F.
Insights
Oral rehydration solution (ORS) effectively treats dehydration in newborns with diarrhea. This WHO-recommended therapy is safe and successful in 95% of cases, offering a crucial intervention for infant health.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics and Neonatology
- Gastroenterology
- Public Health
Context:
- Diarrhea is a leading cause of dehydration in newborns globally.
- Effective and accessible rehydration strategies are critical for infant survival.
- The World Health Organization (WHO) provides standardized oral rehydration solution (ORS) formulas.
Purpose:
- To report clinical experience with WHO-recommended oral rehydration solution (ORS) for treating dehydration in newborns due to diarrhea.
- To evaluate the safety and efficacy of ORS therapy in a cohort of dehydrated infants.
Summary:
- A study involving 43 dehydrated newborns treated with WHO-ORS demonstrated a 95% success rate.
- Average rehydration time was 4.7 hours, with an average ORS intake of 26.5 mL/kg/hour.
- Two infants required hospitalization for intravenous treatment due to complications; breastfeeding continued during rehydration.
Impact:
- Oral rehydration therapy is a safe and adequate method for correcting dehydration in newborns with diarrhea.
- The findings support the widespread adoption of ORS for managing infant diarrhea-related dehydration.
- Successful ORS implementation can reduce the need for hospitalization and improve infant outcomes.
Abstract:
The clinical experience obtained while treating 43 dehydrated newborns due to diarrhea with oral rehydration solution (ORS) using the formula recommended by the World Health Organization is reported. Of the 43 patients, 26 were severely dehydrated (greater than equal to 10% of weight recovery once rehydrated). The averaged time need to correct the dehydration was 4.7 +/- 2.7 hours, with a average intake of ORS of 26.5 +/- 7.5 mL/kg/hour. Children who were being breastfed continued so during the rehydration period. Two of the patients were hospitalized for intravenous treatment, one was due to persistent vomiting during rehydration and probably due to sepsis, and the other due to necrosing enterocolitis. The oral rehydration therapy was successful in 95% of the newborns included in the study, which proved the method to be safe and adequate for the correction of dehydration due to diarrhea among these patients. Similar experiences are reported in Mexico as well as from other countries, which also suggest the use of this therapeutic procedure in children of this age.