Abstract

CARVALHO, Fernando Martins et al. A baixa qualidade do soro caseiro em Salvador, Brasil. Cad. Saúde Pública [online]. 1991, vol.7, n.3, pp. 363-369. ISSN 0102-311X.  http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/S0102-311X1991000300006.

In 1988 a nation-wide campaign aiming to inform the Brazilian population about preparation and use of simple sugar/salt oral rehydration solution (ORS) was carried out. The campaign was massively shown by the media. This preliminary study assessed the quality of ORS prepared by 23 mothers of in-patient children from a pediatric hospital in Salvador, State of Bahia. Fourteen (60.9%) among the 23 mothers prepared solutions containing Na concentrations ranging from 30 to 80 mmol/L which is recommended by the World Health Organization. Eleven (47.8%) solutions contained glucose within the recommended range of 30 to 112 mmoI/L Only 6 (26%) out of the 23 mothers prepared ORS with simultaneously adequate Na and glucose concentrations. However, just 3 (13%) out of these 6 ORS also presented balanced electrolyte concentrations. Potential iatrogenicity due to high concentrations of Na and glucose was found in 30.4% and 43.5% of the solutions, respectively. These data raise serious concerns about the quality of home-made sugar/salt ORS, and therefore about its use as a safe agent in a campaign of diarrhoeal diseases control.