A Comparative Study of Racedrotril and Single Dose Octreotide in Acute Diarrhoea

Abstract

To assess the efficacy of single dose of octreotide and compare it with another antisecretory agent racecadotril in the management of acute infective diarrhoea. A Randomised control study was carried out on the acute diarrhoeal disease patients who were admitted to the Department of General Medicne at R.L. Jalappa Hospital and Research Center, Tamaka, Kolar. 90 patients (≥ 18 years of age) with moderate to severe acute diarrheal illness of less than 5 days duration were randomly allotted into 3 treatment categories of 30 patients each with the help of random number table method after taking written informed consent from them. The control group received only fluids and antibiotics, the racecadotril group received fluid, antibiotics and oral racecadotril at dose of 1.5 mg/kg three times a day. The octreotide group received octreotide (100 microgram stat at the time of hospitalization) along with fluid and antibiotics. Fluid was given according to the severity of dehydration. Intravenous ciprofloxacin and metronidazole were given to all the patients. A detailed history and clinical examination was done in all patients. Routine blood investigations and stool examination was carried out. All the patients in the three groups were matched for age and sex. 81.1% of patients (73/90) were males and majority of them belonged to 25-44 age group. 74.4% of them (67/90) belonged to Lower Class as per Modified B G Prasads Classification. 47 out 90 were from Rural Area. This study results have shown that provide that Octreotide is an effective treatment for acute infective diarrhoea in adults who were admitted and were of unknown etiology. As compared with the control and Racecadotril groups, the Octreotide group had clinically consistent and significant results with respect to the Duration of diarrhoea, Stool Volume and Fluid requirement for the management.