Study on efficacy of WHO-ORS in malnourished children with acute dehydrating diarrhoea.

Twenty-five well nourished children (group A) and 25 malnourished children (group B) of acute diarrhoea with some dehydration were taken up for the study. Both the groups were given World Health Organisation-oral rehydration solution (WHO-ORS) as per WHO guidelines. In both the groups, isonatraemic dehydration was the commonest (group A 64%, group B 56%). Hypokalaemia was noted in 32% cases in group A and 60% cases in group B. Oral rehydration therapy (ORT) was successful in 92% cases in well nourished group A cases and in 80% in group B cases. The mean time in hours required for hydration (group A 8.1+/-1.6; group B 9.1+/-1.4; p<0.05) and hospital stay in days (group A 1.6+/-0.9; group B 3.2+/-3.3; p<0.05) were longer in group B.