A walk into any paediatric ward and a glare of fluids hanged on a stand is the first thing that meets the eye. For years, fluids have been used severally in management of common infections amongst children. As the Ministry of Health puts in the guidelines, boluses of 20-40 millilitres per kg are instituted in infections like septicaemia, where the blood is infected by disease causing organisms, characterised by unconsciousness commonly referred to as fluid resuscitation.
However, a study done recently by Dr. Kathryn Maitland and her team on various hospitals in Kenya, including Kilifi District Hospital concluded that fluid resuscitation does more harm than good to the patients. The study stated that 92.7% of the children who did not receive any fluid, survived while the survival rate for those who received bolus had a 89.4% chances of survival. Doing calculations, that amounts to 3 children given boluses died in every 100 children.
It is therefore clear that the guidelines that have been followed religiously through out the world for years need revision.
