CEREAL BASED ORS AND CEREAL BASED FOOD CURES CHILDHOOD DIARRHOEA AND IMPROVES NUTRITION

Abstract

Food based oral rehydration salt made from 50gm of rice and electrolytes as in WHO ORS was given a trial in 150 age matched children (6m to 3yrs) with acute diarrhoea due to rotavirus, E. Coli and V. Cholerae. WHO ORS was used as control. Cereal ORS reduced the stool output and vomiting by 45 to 502 and 60 to 65% respectively. Subsequent field application demonstrated significant reduction of duration, and weight gain (3 days vs 7 days and 44g vs 16g per month, P < .001). In later studies a traditional weaning diet known as “Khitchri with yoghurt” (K-Y diet) made of Rice, Lentils oil and yoghurt was fed to 37 children, aged 65m to 36m, with persistent diarrhoea for 14 days. Another 36 age matched children receiving soya formula served as control. After one week K-Y diet was added to the soya group. Children fed the K-Y diet demonstrated significantly greater weight gain (468 ± 75 vs 68 ± 286/gm/wk, P<0.005) and reduce stool output (64 ± 75 vs 38 ± 16/g/Kg/d, P<0.05). Similar change in the weight and stool volume was seen in the soya group after addition of K-Y diet in the second week. We recommend that complex carbohydrate based ORS is superior for treatment for diarrhoea. Similarly, a traditional diet based on rice, lentils and yoghurt is an effective dietary therapy for persistent diarrhoea and offers major nutritional advantages.

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