Oral rehydration of neonates with dehydrating diarrhoeas

Abstract

Thirty-nine of forty neonates with mean dehydration equivalent to 6.7% of bodyweight were orally rehydrated with a glucose/electrolyte solution. Only one patient required any intravenous fluids for rehydration. Hypernatræmia and acidosis present at admission were corrected within a few hours without complications. It seems that oral rehydration, is suitable for neonates as well as for children and adults.