Hidratación oral con sodio 90 mEq/L en niños desnutridos deshidratados por diarrea

Introduction. Although controversially, it has been stated that the abnormal renal function present in malnourished children advises that oral rehydration should be gradual and with decreased sodium concentration formulas. Material and methods. Children under 5 years of age (n=33) with severe malnutrition (grade III of Gomez), with acute diarrhea and dehydration were managed with a 90 mEq/L Na oral rehydration solution (ORS) with a scheme similar to the employed for well-nourished dehydrated children. Simple and relative frequencies, median, and standard deviation, were used in the analysis of data. Results. Age averaged 11 months, evolution time on admission 48 hours, dehydration intensity 3.2%, and weight loss 50.8%. Rehydration was successfully achieved in 5 hours in 31 cases; ORS intake was 9.7 mL/kg/hours. One failure was due to intense vomiting, and another to septic shock. No complications were observed. Conclusion. The ORS used allowed us to correct dehydration in a shorter period of time than that informed when a lower sodium concentration formula was administered; fasting time was also diminished. Our findings support the use of the 90 mEq/L Na solution for acute diarrhea-dehydrated malnourished children.