Indication

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. Sodium bicarbonate raises blood and urinary pH by dissociation to provide bicarbonate ions, which neutralises the hydrogen ion concentration. It also neutralises gastric acid via production of carbon dioxide.

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.

Side Effect

No significant side effects.