INDICES> Resomal, special electrolyte - mineral solution (2)

["Wim de Lange and Marieke Lagro" <wimariek@zamnet.zm>]

INDICES: Resomal, special electrolyte - mineral solution (2)
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Resomal is the name for a oral rehydration salts solution for severely
malnourished children. Since severely malnourished children are deficient in
potassium and have very high levels of sodium, the normal oral rehydration
solution is dangerous for them. They need a solution which contains less
sodium and more potassium. These patients are usually also deficient in
other minerals like magnesium, copper and zinc and these minerals are added
to the special ORS for malnourished children. Resomal definitely contains
glucose and it should be taken orally.

Resomal composition

Glucose               125  mmol/l
Sodium                  45 mmol/l
Potassium             40  mmol/l
Chloride                70  mmol/l
Magnesium             3 mmol/l
Zinc                         0.3 mmol/l
Copper                     0.045 mmol/l
Citrate                      7 mmol/l

In the hospital I work, we don't have Resomal nor the special mineral mix to
make it ourselves.

Instead, the standard ORS is diluted and extra potassium and sugar are
added.

standard ORS           1 liter package
potassium                4 gram
sucrose                    50 gram
water                        2 liter

A total of 70-100 ml/kg of special ORS is enough to restore a normal
hydration state. Give this amount over 12 hours, starting with 10 ml/kg/hour
for the first two hours, followed by 5 ml/kg/hour. Reassess the child after
one hour. Nursing staff on children's ward make two to three liters of this
special ORS in the morning and this lasts usually for the whole day.

The above recipe I got from an article written by someone working at MSF. If
you are interested I can look up the name of the author (I haven't got it at
hand at the moment).

I have no knowledge about the use of Resomal in AIDS patients with diarrhoea
and dehydration.

Yours sincerely,

Marieke Lagro, medical officer
Mpongwe Mission Hospital, Zambia
e-mail: Wimariek@zamnet.zm

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