TY - JOUR
T1 - Comparison of safety of glucose oral rehydration solution and maize oral rehydration therapy for home management of diarrhoea in Kenya
AU - Kenya, P. R.
AU - Muttunga, J. N.
AU - Mwenesi, H.
AU - Molla, A. M.
AU - Bari, A.
AU - Juma, R.
AU - Were, B.
AU - Molla, Ayesha
AU - Sharma, Prem
PY - 2001/9/1
Y1 - 2001/9/1
N2 - Safety margins and variability in the composition of glucose and maize-based oral rehydration therapy (ORT) prepared by mothers in a rural district of Western Kenya, are reported here. In a 2-year longitudinal field study, packets containing glucose ORS and a home solution made with maize and table salts, were provided to the mothers of 6180 children in Kakamega District in two separate sub-locations. Experienced and trained field workers supported by community registered nurses provided training for the preparation and use of ORT during weekly visits to every household. On four occasions separated by 4-6 months, a 5 per cent random sampling was done of the home-prepared solutions actually used for the treatment of children with diarrhoea. The water used for preparing ORT was also sampled. Samples of 174 glucose-based ORT, 148 maize-salt ORT, and 201 samples of water were analysed. Only 2 per cent of the maize-based ORT were above 120 meq/1 sodium (i.e., the safe range of sodium concentration) compared to 17.8 per cent for glucose solutions (p < 0.001). Home water samples contained substantial amounts of salt, which could unpredictably affect the final composition of the ORT solutions. We conclude that maize-salt ORT had a better margin of safety than glucose-based ORS.
AB - Safety margins and variability in the composition of glucose and maize-based oral rehydration therapy (ORT) prepared by mothers in a rural district of Western Kenya, are reported here. In a 2-year longitudinal field study, packets containing glucose ORS and a home solution made with maize and table salts, were provided to the mothers of 6180 children in Kakamega District in two separate sub-locations. Experienced and trained field workers supported by community registered nurses provided training for the preparation and use of ORT during weekly visits to every household. On four occasions separated by 4-6 months, a 5 per cent random sampling was done of the home-prepared solutions actually used for the treatment of children with diarrhoea. The water used for preparing ORT was also sampled. Samples of 174 glucose-based ORT, 148 maize-salt ORT, and 201 samples of water were analysed. Only 2 per cent of the maize-based ORT were above 120 meq/1 sodium (i.e., the safe range of sodium concentration) compared to 17.8 per cent for glucose solutions (p < 0.001). Home water samples contained substantial amounts of salt, which could unpredictably affect the final composition of the ORT solutions. We conclude that maize-salt ORT had a better margin of safety than glucose-based ORS.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=0034887739&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1093/tropej/47.4.226
DO - 10.1093/tropej/47.4.226
M3 - Article
C2 - 11523764
AN - SCOPUS:0034887739
VL - 47
SP - 226
EP - 229
JO - Journal of Tropical Pediatrics
JF - Journal of Tropical Pediatrics
SN - 0142-6338
IS - 4
ER -