Diarrhea, Dehydration, Vomiting, Fluid and Electrolytes
imbalance
Adult Dose
Adult: After each loose stool or vomiting 200-400 ml of
prepared saline. Daily dose should be equivalent to patients' fluid requirement
for maintenance and replenishment of losses. During saline therapy normal food
should be continued in case of adults.
Child Dose
Children above 10 years: After each loose stool or vomiting
200-400 ml of prepared saline. Children 2 to 10 years: After each loose stool
or vomiting 100-200 ml of prepared oral saline. Children less than 2 years:
After each loose stool or vomiting 10 to 20 spoonful (50-100 ml) of prepared
saline. Daily dose should be equivalent to patients' fluid requirement for
maintenance and replenishment of losses. During saline therapy mother should
not stop breast-feeding to their child.
Contraindication
Patients with known hypersensitivity.
Mode of Action
Potassium chloride is a major cation of the intracellular
fluid. It plays an active role in the conduction of nerve impulses in the
heart, brain and skeletal muscle; contraction of cardiac skeletal and smooth
muscles; maintenance of normal renal function, acid-base balance, carbohydrate
metabolism and gastric secretion. Sodium chloride is the major extracellular
cation. It is important in electrolyte and fluid balance, osmotic pressure
control and water distribution as it restores sodium ions. It is used as a
source of electrolytes and water for hydration, treatment of metabolic acidosis,
priming solution in haemodialysis and treatment of hyperosmolar diabetes. It is
also used as diluents for infusion of compatible drug additives. Dextrose is a
monosaccharide that is used as a source of calories and water for hydration. It
helps to reduce loss of body protein and nitrogen. It also promotes glycogen
deposition in the liver. When used with insulin, it stimulates the uptake of
potassium by cells, especially in muscle tissue, thus lowering serum potassium
levels.
Precaution
Depressed renal function, severe continuing diarrhoea or
other critical fluid losses may need supplementation with parenteral fluids
along with oral saline. Reconstitue saline should be used within 6 hours.