New hope to combat "baby-killer" ailment: drug-free solution works wonders for stricken infants - effects of dehydration caused by diarrhea

Nutrition Health Review, Spring, 1991

New Hope to Combat "Baby-Killer" Ailment Drug-Free Solution Works Wonders for Stricken Infants

Almost all babies in the United States have one or more bouts of diarrhea during the first year of life. Perhaps, because it is so common, diarrhea is often considered not serious. But because a baby is so small, a hidden danger exists - dehydration.

Dehydration occurs when essential water and minerals (electrolytes) are pulled from the body tissues and lost in the loose, watery stools. If the diarrhea continues too long without adequate fluid or mineral replacement, the baby can die. It doesn't matter whether the diarrhea is caused by a virus, allergy, or other illness. Improperly managed diarrhea can be a serious problem.

Proper management calls for replacing and maintaining these fluids and minerals by feeding the baby an oral electrolyte solution as soon as the diarrhea appears. This is called oral rehydration therapy (ORT) and it can help prevent dehydration in nearly all cases of childhood diarrhea.

If dehydration is not prevented and a baby has become dehydrated, a common treatment is to hospitalize the infant and replace the fluids intravenously. Early use of ORT can help reduce this expensive and traumatic treatment.

ORT is really based on common sense: feeding a baby fluids to replace those lost during diarrhea. "While nearly any liquid is better than none," according to Dr. William Greenough, President of the International Child Health Foundation, "commercially prepared, ready-to-use ORT solutions contain the appropriate amount of electrolytes that need to be restored. Until now, these solutions have been glucose-based."

Dr. Greenough, who spent many years treating infants and mothers in developing countries, considers rice-based ORT solutions superior to the glucose-based products. "Rice-based solutions offer a great advantage because rice facilitates the absorption of salt and water in the intestine much better than the glucose-based products," he said.

Dr. Greenough also recommends that babies receiving ORT continue to be fed. "The old concept of resting the bowel during a diarrhea episode no longer stands," he said. "Sick babies continue to need nutrients to get well. Mothers should start giving food - either breast milk or formula - as soon as their baby is willing to eat. However, because diarrhea can have a number of different causes, parents should always consult their baby's physician for feeding instructions during diarrhea."