Oral Electrolytes Use in Pediatric Non-Diarrheal Illnesses: A Retrospective, Indian Real-world Study

Dehydration due to non-diarrheal illnesses is often underrecognized. Limited literature is available on the use of oral electrolytes in non-diarrheal conditions in pediatric patients. This study was conducted to understand the recommendations of oral electrolytes and ready-to-drink (RTD) solutions (ORSL^®, ORSL Plus^®, and ORL Rehydrate^®) for non-diarrheal conditions. The effect of oral electrolytes on symptom resolution and recovery from fever and respiratory tract infection (RTI) was evaluated.

Anonymized data of patients on the HealthPlix electronic medical records (EMR) database meeting the eligibility criteria was retrieved and analyzed.

RTD electrolytes were prescribed to 31.44% of the patients prescribed oral electrolytes (55,931). ORSL^® was prescribed to the highest proportion of patients (48.60%). ORSL Plus^® was most recommended among patients with dehydration (62% of those recommended RTDs) and dengue (40% of patients on RTDs). Body ache, vomiting, fatigue, nausea, and giddiness were the most common symptoms reported by patients prescribed oral electrolytes. ORSL^® was the most prescribed in cases of body aches and vomiting (16% and 19% of the patients, respectively, on RTDs). ORSL^®, ORSL Plus^®, and ORSL Rehydrate^® were prescribed for 1-3 days to most of the patients. ORSL^® and ORSL Plus^® were prescribed to 37.2% and 54.5% of the patients, respectively, with thrice-a-day (TID) schedule while ORSL Plus^® was majorly prescribed for a four-times-a-day (QID) schedule. The proportion of patients resolved RTIs was higher for the patients prescribed with oral electrolytes (57.35%) in comparison with the ones not prescribed (48.57%). The duration of recovery for patients with fever was shorter in the case of oral electrolyte arm suggesting faster recovery.

There is a need to create awareness around the advantages of prescribing oral RTD fluid electrolytes and energy formulations in non-diarrheal conditions. This has the potential to shorten the duration of sickness and speed up recovery.