{'fraction_non_alphanumeric': 0.039316239316239315, 'fraction_numerical': 0.03333333333333333, 'mean_word_length': 4.768472906403941, 'pattern_counts': {'":': 0, '<': 2, '<?xml version=': 0, '>': 0, 'https://': 0, 'lorem ipsum': 0, 'www.': 0, 'xml': 0}, 'pii_count': 0, 'substrings_counts': 0, 'word_list_counts': {'cursed_substrings.json': 0, 'profanity_word_list.json': 0, 'sexual_word_list.json': 0, 'zh_pornsignals.json': 0}}
A Comparative Trial of Cholestyramine and Loperamide for acute Diarrhoea in Infants Treated as Outpatients

ABSTRACT. Infants aged 4 to 36 months with acute diarrhoea (rotavirus 66 %) were treated as outpatients with oral fluids and a rapid return to full feedings. In addition, the infants were randomized to receive for 3 days either cholestyramine 2 g twice daily (N= 10), an equivalent placebo 2 g twice daily (N=15), or loperamide 0.10 mg/kg divided in three doses (N=16). The duration of watery diarrhoea from the beginning of treatment was 0.9±1.0 days in the cholestyramine group, 2.5±1.3 days in the loperamide group, and 3.3±1.6 days in the placebo group (P<0.001 cholestyramine vs. placebo, p<0.005 cholestyramine vs. loperamide). The infants receiving cholestyramine also had a better weight gain than those receiving the placebo, and their metabolic acidosis was corrected sooner. There was no hyperchloraemia associated with the cholestyramine treatment. It is concluded that cholestyramine 2 g twice daily for 3 days can be safely used to shorten the course of acute diarrhoea. The use of loperamide in acute infantile diarrhoea does not appear justified.