Effect of dilute apple juice and preferred fluids vs electrolyte maintenance solution on treatment failure among children with mild gastroenteritis: a randomized clinical trial

In this study of 644 children with mild gastroenteritis, those who received dilute apple juice experienced treatment failure less often than those given electrolyte maintenance solution (16.7% vs 25.0%; difference, −8.3%; P < 0.001 for inferiority and P =0 .006 for superiority).

Treatment failure was defined by any of the following occurring within seven days: intravenous rehydration, hospitalisation, unscheduled doctor encounter, protracted symptoms, 3% or more weight loss, or significant dehydration at follow-up.

 

Several limitations were highlighted: This study was conducted in a high-income country. Because children in low- and middle-income countries are at higher risk of gastroenteritis-related complications, the results should not be extrapolated to such settings. This was a single-centre study and the control solution was an apple-flavoured, sucralose-sweetened electrolyte maintenance solution; generalisability of study results to other settings and electrolyte maintenance solutions is uncertain.