[A baobab solution for the prevention and treatment of acute dehydration in infantile diarrhea]

Dakar Med. 1997;42(1):68-73.
[Article in French]

Abstract

Objective: The purpose of this study was to compare the clinical efficacy of a local solution based on "pain de singe", fruit of baobab (Adansonia digitata), and the WHO standard solution in the treatment of children with acute diarrhea and resulting mild to moderate dehydration.

Methodology: A prospective clinical trial comparing the local solution to the standard WHO solution was conducted; in children of 6 months or older (mean age = 16.6 +/- 8.8 months), 79 received the WHO solution and 82 the local solution, and were followed for a period ranging from 4 to 48 hours. Evolution of diarrhea and weight gain were evaluated as variables of interest.

Results: WHO solution was found to be superior, but not statistically significant in term of duration of diarrhea and weight gain.

Discussion: The pain de singe based solution presents additional advantages: nutritional, economic and cultural; we recommend it to promote use of TRO at home.

Publication types

  • Clinical Trial
  • Comparative Study
  • English Abstract
  • Randomized Controlled Trial
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Bicarbonates / therapeutic use
  • Child, Preschool
  • Dehydration / etiology
  • Dehydration / prevention & control*
  • Diarrhea, Infantile / complications*
  • Female
  • Flour*
  • Fluid Therapy*
  • Fruit*
  • Glucose / therapeutic use
  • Humans
  • Infant
  • Male
  • Patient Acceptance of Health Care
  • Potassium Chloride / therapeutic use
  • Prospective Studies
  • Rehydration Solutions / therapeutic use*
  • Sodium Chloride / therapeutic use
  • Treatment Outcome

Substances

  • Bicarbonates
  • Rehydration Solutions
  • World Health Organization oral rehydration solution
  • Sodium Chloride
  • Potassium Chloride
  • Glucose