Pedialyte or Gatorade for Viral Gastroenteritis in Adults: a Randomized, Controlled Trial
Pedialyte or Gatorade for Viral Gastroenteritis in Adults: a Randomized, Controlled Trial
Background: Pedialyte and Gatorade are advocated for the treatment of dehydration in viral
 gastroenteritis, but there is limited evidence to support their use.

 Objective: To examine the efficacy, safety and palatability of Pedialyte, Gatorade, and a New
 Oral Rehydration Solution (NS).

 Design: Randomized double blind. Setting: Inpatient, community hospital.
 Patients/Interventions: 75 consecutive adult patients (m/f=44/33) admitted with viral
 gastroenteritis were randomized to receive Gatorade, Pedialyte or NS for 48 hours. A
 yogurt/rice diet was allowed ad libitum.

 Measurements: Stool and urine output, electrolytes, fluid intake, body weight, hematocrit and
 palatability of solutions.

 Limitations: Smaller sample size and higher drop out (20%).
Inclusion Criteria:

 -  Subjects were included if they had mild-to-moderate diarrhea, with mildly sunken eyes
 and a clinical assessment of dehydration of less than 5%, a serum sodium concentration
 between 130-150 mEq/L, adequate general health and nutrition, a BUN/creatinine ratio
 of >20 and with a normal pulse rate for age and degree of fever and adequate skin
 turgor

 Exclusion Criteria:

 -  Patients were excluded if they had hyperthermia (>39.0º C), serum sodium >150 mEq/L or
 <130 mEq/L, white cell count >15,000, bloody diarrhea (dysentery), abnormal
 cardiovascular or renal function or an underlying metabolic or nutritional disorder
 and most importantly, if the clinical assessment of dehydration was >7% that suggested
 a need for intravenous fluids.