Sometimes every hour counts. Especially when it comes to children's health. That's why a recent publication in the prestigious medical journal BMJ Global Health has generated so much attention - and pride. The study from The Gambia shows that the Czech product Enterosgel can play an important role where options are limited and where even a common illness like diarrhea can have serious consequences.
Less stools, more hydration, shorter course
Research has looked at how combining Enterosgel with conventional oral rehydration solution (ORS) and zinc can affect the course of acute diarrhoea in young children. The study involved 50 children aged 6 months to 5 years. One group received ORS and zinc alone, the other the same base supplemented with Enterosgel - and the differences were significant.
The children who also received Enterosgel had about half the diarrhea and also took in more fluids, according to the study. Crucially, the number of episodes of diarrhoea was also significantly reduced - which in practice means less risk of dehydration and a quicker return to normal life.
Enterosgel was given straight mixed with rehydration solution in this study - a simple solution that makes treatment easier, especially where full healthcare is not available. It is in these situations that the power of simple but thoughtful solutions is demonstrated.
It's nice to know that Czech science and development is behind this approach - and that a product created here can help thousands of miles away.
Why does it matter?
According to WHO data from 2024, diarrhoea is still the third most common cause of death in children under five.Over 443,000 children die from it every year. Every step that helps reduce this number is worthwhile. (1)
That is why this study should not be lost. It is not a sensation, but a quiet proof that even a proven medicine, combined with a modern approach, can offer a big difference - and where children need it most.
(1) https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/diarrhoeal-disease