EFFICACY OF COPPER SUPPLEMENTATION IN ACUTE DIARRHEA IN CHILDREN:ADOUBLE BLIND RANDAMIZED STUDY

Abstract

This interventional clinical trial was carried to evaluate the efficacy of copper sulfate supplementation to ORS in patients who presented to the out Patient clinic, Children Hospital, Ain Shams University with acute diarrhea in the period between (March, 2013 till April, 2013). The study included Thirty patients (15 patients who received standard ORS and 15 patients who received ORS supplemented with copper in concentration of 5mg/L.), whose age ranged between 2-5 years. Verbal consent from all parents was taken before proceeding with this work. All patients had full medical history taking age, sex, symptoms (diarrhea, vomiting, abdominal pain ,fever ,tensmus, stool character) ,onset of symptoms ,number of attacks per day, duration of attack, relation of symptoms to feeding , previous attack of gastroenteritis and duration. Careful clinical examination was done with special emphasis on vital data (Level of consciousness, pulse, temperature, blood pressure) signs of dehydration as (skin elasticity, body weight, Anterior fontanel, Eyes, tongue, mucus membrane and urine output). All patients had a laboratory assessment of CBC (hemoglobin %, platelet count and TLC), CRP, stool analysis, Na, K, urea and creatinine. The results of current study showed that no significant difference between both groups regarding frequency and duration of diarrheal attack (P>0.05). SUMMARY CONCLUSION 70 Laboratory results showed that there was no significant difference between both groups regarding (hemoglobin level, Na, K, CRP). No significant difference between both groups regarding gender, stool character, presenting symptoms as (vomiting, fever, abdominal pain), signs of dehydrations as (thirst, dry tongue, sunken eyes, skin elasticity, depressed fontanels). A clinically and statistically highly significant reduction in duration and proportion of children with diarrhea was observed in the supplemented group (P<0.01). From the results of current study we conclude that the use of ORS supplemented with copper decrease severity and duration of acute diarrhea.