Table 1 Admission characteristics of study patients (values are mean ± SD or numbers)

Age (month)

18. 3 ± 11. 26

17. 8 ± 10

Gender (male/female)

32/31

35/27

Admission Weight (kg)

6.0 ± 1.33

5.84 ± 1.13

Weight for age percent median

54. 9 ± 6.7

54.9 ± 5.38

Weight for length percent median

70.9 ± 5.3

70.8 ± 5.6

Weight for age Z score

−4.38 ± .68

−4.31 ± 0.63

Weight for length Z score

−3.14 ± 1.88

−2.76 ± 2.46

Presence of bi-pedal edema

46/63 (73%)

49/63(78%)

Serum Albumin (g/L)

39.7 ± 5.57

39.3 ± 6.12

Serum sodium (mmol/L)

140 ± 6.7

140 ± 5.8

Serum potassium (mmol/L)

3.54 ± 1.0

3.6 ± 1.0

Serum chloride (mmol/L)

105 ± 8.0

106 ± 7.0

SerumTCO₂ (mmol/L)

16.4 ± 4.2

15.8 ± 3.6

Duration of diarrhoea before admission (hours)

39 ± 18.2

40.0 ± 15.68

Number of stool in last 24 hours.

14.36 ± 6.00

14.02 ± 6.09

Duration of vomiting before adm. (hours)

35.9 ± 18.10

38.6 ± 16.2

No. of vomit in last 24 hrs

7.7 ± 4.1

7.4 ± 3.4

Dehydration status on admission (Some/ Severe)

57/6

55/8

Breastfed prior to illness

43/63 (69%)

48/63(76%)

Stool pathogens

Vibrio cholera

3/63

4/63

Rota virus

4/63

5/63

None identified*

56/63

54/63