18-month-old baby had seizures due to drinking rehydration supplements

Pediatricians at a large hospital in Hanoi determined that the baby had a gastrointestinal infection leading to acute dehydration and electrolyte imbalance causing convulsions due to improper rehydration.

Doctor Do Tuan Anh said the child was admitted to the hospital on March 24 in a state of severe dehydration, dry lips, sunken eyes, and crying without tears. Before that, the child had severe convulsions, eyes rolled back, his whole body turned purple, and he was almost unconscious.

The doctor diagnosed the baby with a gastrointestinal infection leading to acute dehydration and electrolyte imbalance causing seizures. The patient was quickly treated with intravenous fluids, basic tests, echocardiogram, brain scan, and spinal tap. Since being admitted to the hospital, the baby has had 4 more seizures lasting about 30 seconds to 1 minute each. The doctor had to use medication to stop the seizures. After 4 days of monitoring and proper treatment, the baby's condition gradually stabilized.

The patient's father said that 3 days before being admitted to the hospital, the child had diarrhea, poor appetite and was very tired. The family took the child to the Pediatrics Department, Bach Mai Hospital and the doctor prescribed Oresol. However, when he went to the pharmacy to buy it, the seller said that the Oresol was out of stock and gave him a pre-mixed Oresol supplement.

Dr. Tuan Anh said that Oresol is a medicine, a scientific achievement of the world that has saved the lives of millions of children suffering from diarrhea and dehydration. When children have diarrhea, dehydration occurs, if not treated promptly, it will disrupt the body's functions, threatening their lives.

Oresol with ingredients such as Na, K, Cl... when mixed correctly and drunk correctly will compensate for the lost amount of water and electrolytes, helping children recover. For example, one packet mixed with one liter of water or one packet mixed with 200 ml of water according to the manufacturer's regulations. If mixed too dilute or too concentrated, it will change the osmotic pressure of Oresol, making it impossible for the intestines to absorb. Not only will it not be effective in compensating for dehydration, but it will also cause children to have more diarrhea and lead to other dangerous diseases. In addition, using functional foods instead of Oresol is also very dangerous because it immediately affects the health of children due to not being compensated for enough water and electrolytes.

Doctors recommend that when mixing Oresol, parents must carefully read the mixing instructions and strictly follow the prescribed dosage. When mixing the solution with water, it must be consumed within 24 hours, then discarded and a new packet prepared. Absolutely do not store in the refrigerator for children to drink gradually, do not divide the medicine packet for use. Do not boil the mixed solution, absolutely do not add sugar, do not mix with milk, fruit juice, soft drinks...

Parents absolutely must not use Oresol supplements to replace Oresol medicine. In particular, when seeing children showing unusual signs such as not drinking enough Oresol, being tired, sleeping lethargically and being difficult to wake up, dry lips, sunken eyes, crying without tears, the child must be taken to the hospital immediately. These are signs of severe dehydration which, if not treated promptly, will be very dangerous for the child.