Oral fluid therapy of cholera among Bangladesh refugees. 1973.

Abstract

In 1971 a crucial field trial of oral glucose-electrolyte solutions in the treatment of cholera was carried out in Bongaon India when the disease appeared in a population of war refugees. A total of 3703 patients including severe cases treated initially with limited supplies of parenteral fluids and mild to moderately severe cases treated with oral therapy alone were admitted to the Bongaon treatment center; the overall case/fatality ratio was 3.6%. A special demonstration unit provided treatment for 1190 of these patients with a case/fatality ratio of 1%. Advantages of the oral solution included local availability of ingredients minimal cost of preparation and transport ease of administration safety in the hands of inexperienced personnel after only brief instructions early accessibility of treatment and reasonable effectiveness especially when used very early in the course of the disease prior to extreme dehydration shock and acidosis. In severe cases considerable sparing of intravenous fluids resulted from the adjunct use of the oral solution.