how is drinking coca cola significant in treating the disease known as cholera?

Question

Lina, a patient, was suffering from cholera and was already crying out in pain. She lives in a remote area in ****** with her husband Gregorio. Since the supply of medicine that could cure Lina was out of stock in their dilapidated clinic, the doctor left in charge gave her instead a coca cola. What for?

Answer 1

Cholera victims lose fluids mainly from diarrhea but also from vomiting and fever. In third world conntries, oral replacement solutions are used, whereas here, fluids and electrolytes are given intravenously.

The newest WHO / UNICEF oral rehydration solution consists of packets dissolved in a liter of water to provide glucose, soduim, potassium, base and a smidgin of magnesium.

Coca Cola has excess sugar and is woefully lacking in sodium and potassium and its osmolarity is too high. It would sustain Lina only briefly.