Efficacy and safety of a modified oral rehydration solution (ReSoMaL) in the treatment of severely malnourished children with watery diarrhea

Objectives Efficacy, development of overhydration, and correction of electrolyte disturbances of severely malnourished children with acute diarrhea using a modified oral rehydration solution for malnourished children (termed ReSoMaL and recommended by the World Health Organization [WHO]) were evaluated and compared with standard WHO-oral rehydration solution (ORS). Study design Children age 6 to 36 months with severe malnutrition and acute watery diarrhea were randomized to ReSoMaL (n=65) or standard WHO-ORS (n=65). Major outcome measures included the number of children who developed overhydration and the number who corrected hypokalemia. Results The numbers of children who developed overhydration were not significantly different (ReSoMaL vs WHO-ORS, 5% vs 12%, P=.2). ReSoMaL corrected basal hypokalemia in a greater proportion of children by 24 hours (36%…