[Oral rehydration--some current aspects]

Some findings in a recent study (1982), with metabolic balances, in five severely dehydrated infants (with weight above the 10th percentile) are commented. An oral solution, for maintenance was administered, after an initial intravenous infusion of half isotonic saline (100 cc/kg). The composition of the fluid was: Na 45 mEq/l, K 33 mEq/l, CL 78 mEq/l and glucose 2,8%. Metabolic balance were performed for the first six days of recovery. A similar group of infants, treated only with intravenous fluid was used for comparison. Results have shown that: 1) the sodium concentration was enough to achieve positive sodium balances, but only due to an intense reduction of renal sodium excretion; 2) the amount of potassium was well tolerated and hyperkalemia was not observed; 3) improvement of acid base status was satisfactory even without the use of bicarbonate in the oral solution.