[Oral treatment of acute infantile diarrhoea with sucrose/electrolyte solution (author's transl)].

: The value of oral re-hydratation in acute diarrhoea has been demonstrated in a study of 161 infants (mean age 6.8 months, range 1 to 26 months). One litre of solution contained sodium 50 mEq, potassium 25 mEq, bicarbonate 2 g, glucose 20 g, sucrose 20 g with an osmolarity of 300 milliosmoles/kg. Using this solution, rapid replacement of water osses was possible. Dehydratation, the major complication of acute diarrhoea, was thereby prevented and treated without the use of parenteral therapy. However parenteral treatment is still necessary in severe cases (shock, acidosis or severe diarrhoea).