Efficacy of Oral Racecadotril in Children with Acute Watery Diarrhea

Objective: To determine the efficacy of Racecadotril in treating acute watery diarrhea among children under 5 years of age attending Combined Military Hospital, Rawalpindi Pakistan. Study Design: Quasi-experimental study. Place and Duration of Study: Department of Pediatrics, Combined Military Hospital, Rawalpindi Pakistan, from Jul to Dec 2022. Methodology: All patients aged 6 months to 5 years with acute watery diarrhea were consecutively enrolled. All children were randomly divided into a control group (Oral Rehydration Supplement) and a study group (Racecadotril 1.5 mg/kg every eight hours). Racecadotril administration lasted until diarrhea symptoms improved or five days after the start of the treatment. From day 1 to day 5, the quantity and consistency of stool were noted. On day 5, clinical effectiveness was indicated by three stools or fewer per day. Results: Of 90 children, the overall efficacy was 61(67.8%). A significant association of efficacy was observed with the treatment group (p <0.001), degree of dehydration (p <0.001), and mother’s educational status (p 0.015). The efficacy was 4.82 times higher among children who received Racecadotril (aOR: 4.82, 95% CI 1.48-15.76), 3.21 times higher among intermediate or higher mothers’ education (aOR: 3.23, 95% CI 1.32-7.91), 2.84 times higher among below matric mothers’ education (aOR: 2.84, 95% CI 1.24-6.48) while 94% lower among children with severe dehydration (aOR: 0.06, 95% CI 0.01-0.27). Conclusion: Racecadotril's efficacy was higher in treating children with acute watery diarrhea than Oral Rehydration Supplement alone in children under 5 years old.