The Potential of Hyphaene thebaica (Doum palm) Fruits Extract as a Substitute for ORS in the Management of Diarrhea in Children under Five in Sinnar State, Sudan

The study was conducted to evaluate the Nutritional Efficacy of Doum (Hyphaene thebaica) Extract in the Management of Diarrhea in Children under Five in Sinnar State, Sudan. The study sample included 120 children suffering from diarrhea in Singa Teaching Hospital in the period from April 2018 to April 2019. The demographic data was collected by interviewing (Questionnaire) children mothers. The data was analyzed by Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS).120 children with moderate diarrhea were divided into two groups. Group 1 was given ORS as a control and Group 2 was given Doum (Hyphaene thebaica) solution in the Child Emergency Department (CED) over a period of 2?6?h, under supervision of a trained team to restore weight lost and balance Na+, K+ levels and thus remove and reduce signs of dehydration. The result showed that the majority of the patients were of the ages 11 - 20 months including (60%) males and (40%) females. Most of the patients (70%) had sunken eyes, (65%) were unable of drinking and (66.6%) were sufferings from skin pinch goo's back. The mean values of moisture, ash, protein, fat and fiber contents in Doum powder were (5.44%), (3.28%), (6.81%), (0.37%) and (3.50%) respectively. The mean values of tannins contents were (22.60mg/100g), phenols (26.76 mg/100g) and phytic (9.07mg/100g). The concentrations of Fe, Cu, Pb and Co content in Doum powder were (311.95mg/100g), (0.060mg/100g), (Nil) and (Nil) respectively. The composition of the prepared Doum extract solution was as follows; 23 g Doum (Hyphaene thebaica) + 10g sugar + 1.68g NaCl completed to 1-liter water. Each child was given 75 ml/ 1kg wt. The results showed that children with moderate diarrhea who were given a solution of Doum had improved by (100%) and were better than those given (ORS). Their weights and (Na+) and (K+) levels were restored. The taste of Doum extract solution was accepted by the children more than ORS solution. The study concluded that Doum solution had proved successful for the children with moderate diarrhea in restoring their weight loss due to diarrhea, addressing the defects in the electrolytes and thus removing and reducing the signs of dehydration. Besides it is a local natural product, cheap and acceptable by the children.