Nifuroxazide (Ercefuryl) Plus Oral rehydration solution Versus Oral ...

Table 5. Bacterial Pathogens Isolated
Pathogens Ercefuryl ORS
Shigella 7 8
Salmonella 3 3
Vibrio cholerae 4 3
Toxigenic E. co1i 3 2
Enteropathogenic E. coli 1 2
Vibrio parahemolyticus 1 2
Vibrio fluvialis 1 0
Total patients 20 20
DISCUSSION
Since our intention in doing this study was to determine whether the addition of an oral
anti-infectious agent to the usual rehydration and diet therapy was of therapeutic value in the
diarrheas of infants and children, we were very careful and critical in our interpretations. We
know that many researchers consider ORS to be sufficient in combating dehydration to which we
agree but since we wanted to shorten the patient's stay in the hospital we think that an antiinfectious
agent is necessary, as seen in our results. The duration of illness is very important in
any government hospital. A decrease in the duration of the illness of the patient would mean a
shorter hospital stay which is advantageous psychologically and economically. Looking at our
results it is clear that the drug led to considerable improvement in the patient's symptomatology
and well-being. However, because the major problem is still the risk of dehydration, we think that
ORS should be a part of the drug treatment in infectious diarrhea.
In this study, we also put importance to the proper supervision of the patient's diet
because maintenance of adequate nutrition will prevent malnutrition, a condition that can hinder
early response of the patient. 11,12 Nutrition can be maintained because the gut remains able to
absorb a variety of nutrients. In fact, there is no physiological basis to the common belief that the
bowel should be "rested" during acute diarrhea.
Because we had done this study to hospitalized patients, we cannot say whether the
results would be the same for outpatients since usually only the mild and moderately dehydrated
cases are the ones treated in the Out-Patient Department, in which cases ORS alone is enough to
relieve the dehydration.
CONCLUSION
In conclusion, we think the drug has a therapeutic value especially when given
concomitant with an oral rehydration solution. In addition to the drug and flu id therapy, the diet
of the patient should be properly guided to reach maximum therapeutic level.
No side effects or reactions were noted from the nifuroxazide patients.
Acknowledgement
We wish to thank Laboratories Robert & Carriere for supplying the drugs used for this trial.
REFERENCES
1. Darrow DC. Disturbances of water and electrolytes in infantile diarrhea. Pediatrics 1949; 3(2):129-132,.
2. Pierce NF, Hirschhorn N. Oral fluid - A simple weapon against dehydration diarrhea. WHO Chronicle 1977; 31:87-93.
3. Cash RA. Treatment of acute diarrhea - Emphasis on oral therapy. Excerpts from Chronicles 1981I(I).
4. Santoshara M, et al. Oral rehydration therapy of infantile diarrhea. N Engl J Med 1982; 306:1070-1076.
5. Christie AB. Infectious Diseases Epidemiology and Clinical Practice. 2nd Edition, Churchill Livingstone. 1974. pp. 42-45.