AUTHOR=Lifschitz Carlos , Kozhevnikov Oleksii , Oesterling Christine , Anbar Amira , Walker Steven TITLE=Acute gastroenteritis—changes to the recommended original oral rehydrating salts: a review JOURNAL=Frontiers in Pediatrics VOLUME=11 YEAR=2023 URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/pediatrics/articles/10.3389/fped.2023.1294490 DOI=10.3389/fped.2023.1294490 ISSN=2296-2360 ABSTRACT=

The World Health Organization recommended a formulation of oral rehydration salts as the intervention of choice for the treatment of acute gastroenteritis. While of value for the replacement of fluids and electrolytes, the formulation does not reduce stool volume, frequency, or symptom duration. This may prevent wide acceptance. To increase tolerability, shorten the duration of diarrhea and improve parental quality of life, several modifications to the original formula have been proposed. These include; low osmolarity, rice-based, glucose polymers as an alternative to glucose, the addition of probiotics, prebiotics and/or zinc, and various other ingredients. Here we summarize evidence regarding such changes and additions.