Evaluation of a sucrose/electrolyte solution for oral rehydration in acute infantile diarrhoea.

An oral sucrose/electrolyte solution brought about complete hydration in 19 out of 20 consecutive children with a median age of 1 year with moderate to severe dehydration due to acute diarrhoea (1 child did not respond and needed intravenous therapy). Vomiting, abdominal distension, and appearance of sugar in the stools during oral hydration did not interfere with its success. A satisfactory response was shown by weight gain (mean +/- S.E. = 9-2 +/- 0-6%), restoration of plasma-bicarbonate to normal levels, falls in the haematocrit values and in the plasma specific gravity, and complete clinical recovery. Disaccharidases in jejunal mucosal biopsy specimens in the acute phase showed reduced lactase in 75% and reduced sucrase in 18%; maltase levels were adequate. Except for the child who did not respond, all showed a satisfactory rise of blood-sugar after sucrose and glucose tolerance tests. Sucrose is cheap and easily obtained; its use instead of glucose in electrolyte solutions would be a considerable gain.