Management of acute gastroenteritis in children

Key words: Acute gastroenteritis, Dehydration, Diagnosis, Treatment, Antiemetic drugs, Guidelines

Acute gastroenteritis (AG) is a very common disease in children. It causes significant mortality in developing countries and significant economic burden to developed countries. Viruses are responsible for approximately 70% of episodes of acute gastroenteritis in children and rotavirus is one of the best studied of these viruses. Although guidelines exist to assist clinicians, there is evidence that the treatment of paediatric AG varies considerably from place to place, that Oral Rehydration Solution (ORS) is still underused and that children frequently receive intravenous rehydration. In this paper the literature and international guidelines on the epidemiology, diagnosis, management and prevention of AG and its major complication, dehydration are reviewed; in particular a scale to evaluate the level of dehydration and a detailed protocol for oral and intravenous rehydration are provided. The correct approach to diet and the role of antiemetic drugs are also discussed.