Role of oral rehydration in the treatment of children with rotavirus infection

Rotavirus infection (RVI) has always been one of the urgent problems in healthcare causing significant economic and social damage. Correction of water-electrolyte disorders is pivotal for RVI therapy. The severity of the dehydration largely determines the overall severity of the disease. It is often challenging to choose the most effective rehydration solution; therefore, inadequate choice is the most common treatment error in patients with acute intestinal infections. Objective. To assess the efficacy of oral rehydration in children with acute gastroenteritis caused by rotavirus treated in an outpatient department. Patients and methods. This retrospective, open-label, case-control study included 100 children with RVI treated in 2021–2022. They were divided into three groups. In group I, patients received water or self-made solutions for rehydration; in group II, patients received oral rehydration therapy (ORT) with different commercial solutions; in group III, patients received Nestle ReHydra. We evaluated the severity and duration of RVI symptoms, including diarrhea, vomiting, abdominal pain, flatulence, general symptoms of intoxication, and signs of exicosis. Results. The lowest duration of diarrhea, vomiting, flatulence, and bloating was observed in group III. The duration of RVI symptoms in children receiving low osmolar ORT was 1.2-1.4 times lower than in those who did not receive this therapy. We found that low osmolar ORTs are the most effective agents to treat dehydration in children. Oral rehydration with ready-touse ORTs is preferable, because they can be rapidly prepared and administered and prevent mistakes associated with drug preparation. Conclusion. Oral rehydration with low osmolar ORT in children with RVI increases the efficacy of outpatient treatment, reduce the duration of clinical symptoms, and decrease the risks of severe dehydration that requires inpatient treatment. Key words: acute intestinal infections, dehydration, low osmolar solutions, diarrhea, oral rehydration