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Effects of oral rehydration solution-based prophylactic sodium supplementation on clinical outcomes in pediatric
Hoda Atef Abdelsattar Ibrahim1, Mohamed Agha2, Marwa Taha3
1Division of Pediatric Clinical Nutrition, Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University, Cairo 12613, Egypt. hodaibrahim424@gmail.com.
Insights
Prophylactic oral sodium supplementation using oral rehydration solution (ORS) in children with pneumonia reduced hospital stay and improved clinical outcomes. This intervention offers a health-promoting effect for pediatric pneumonia patients.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Clinical Nutrition
- Pulmonology
Background:
- Hyponatremia is a common and serious complication in pediatric pneumonia, associated with worse outcomes.
- Oral rehydration solution (ORS) provides a readily available and safe method for sodium supplementation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the efficacy of prophylactic sodium supplementation via ORS in pediatric pneumonia patients.
- To assess the impact on clinical and hospital outcomes.
Main Methods:
- A randomized controlled trial involving 140 infants and children with pneumonia.
- Compared outcomes between an intervention group receiving ORS and a control group.
- Primary outcome: hospital length of stay; Secondary outcomes: serum electrolytes, respiratory scores, shock index, inflammatory markers.
Main Results:
- The intervention group had a significantly shorter hospital stay (P=0.001).
- Clinical respiratory scores on day 4 were significantly lower in the ORS group (P=0.001).
- Serum sodium levels at discharge were higher in the ORS group (P=0.002).
Conclusions:
- Prophylactic oral sodium supplementation with ORS demonstrates a beneficial effect in pediatric pneumonia.
- This intervention may improve clinical recovery and reduce hospital length of stay.
Background:
Hyponatremia is a prevalent and serious electrolyte imbalance in pediatric pneumonia and is linked to increased disease severity and adverse outcomes. Oral rehydration solution (ORS) is an available, inexpensive, safe, and ready-to-use oral solution that can supplement sodium in such cases.
Aim:
To assess the impact of prophylactic sodium supplementation via ORS on clinical and hospital outcomes in infants and children admitted with pneumonia.
Methods:
A randomized, interventional controlled trial was conducted on 140 infants and children admitted with pneumonia (70 per group). The primary outcome was hospital length of stay, with secondary outcomes including serum sodium and potassium levels, clinical respiratory scores, modified shock index, and nutritional/inflammatory markers. The hospital length of stay and both the laboratory and clinical parameters of the interventional and control groups were compared.
Results:
The hospital stay was longer in the control group than in the intervention group (P value = 0.001; effect size = 0.59). Clinical respiratory scores on day 4 were significantly lower in the intervention group than in the control group (P value = 0.001). Sodium levels were significantly lower in the control group than in the intervention group at discharge (P value = 0.002).
Conclusion:
Prophylactic oral sodium supplementation through ORS may have a health-promoting effect on infants and children admitted with pneumonia.
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