Efficacy of Rice Based Oral Rehydration Solution versus Glucose Based Oral Rehydration Solution in the Treatment of Acute Watery Diarrhea with Some Dehydration in Pediatric Patients 6 to 36 months of Age Admitted in a Tertiary Hospital.

Efficacy of Rice Based Oral Rehydration Solution versus Glucose Based Oral Rehydration Solution in the Treatment of Acute Watery Diarrhea with Some Dehydration in Patients 6 to 36 months of Age Admitted in a Tertiary Hospital

OBJECTIVE: To compare the efficacy of rice based oral rehydration solution versus glucose based oral rehydration solution in the treatment of acute watery diarrhea with some dehydration in pediatric patients 6 to 36 months of age admitted in a Tertiary Government Hospital in Bacolod City from October to December 2012.

DESIGN: Randomized Prospective Study Design

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Efficacy of rice based oral rehydration solution versus glucose based oral rehydration solution in the treatment of acute watery diarrhea with some dehydration in pediatric patients 6 to 36 months of age using parameters of stool output volume, frequency and consistency for comparison.

RESULTS: There was no significant difference between the patients given Rice based-ORS and Glucose based- ORS in terms of stool volume and amount of ORS taken. The rice-based ORS group had significantly lesser stool frequency and had faster transition of stool consistency from watery/loose to mushy thus had a shorter duration of diarrhea compared to the glucose based ORS group.

CONCLUSION: The results show that the use of rice-based ORS solution is better than glucose based-ORS in the treatment of children with acute watery diarrhea.

RECOMMENDATION: The use of rice based-ORS is recommended for acute watery diarrhea with some dehydration in children 6 to 36 months. Further studies are recommended using a larger scale of subjects and a different setting.