Pre-admission management of acute gastroenteritis.

OBJECTIVE

Acute gastroenteritis contributes to significant morbidity and need for hospital admission. The current literature suggests outpatient management is often inappropriate. This study examines the pre-admission management of children admitted with acute gastroenteritis to a major children's hospital.

METHODOLOGY: Information was obtained from parental questionnaires and the medical notes for 164 children.

RESULTS

Parents were poorly informed regarding appropriate home management. Over 70% sought professional advice prior to admission, usually from their general practitioner. Although 58% received advice on fluid therapy, an oral rehydration solution was recommended for only 32%, and only 9% actually used one before admission. Advice regarding fluid requirements was usually inadequate. Inappropriate medications were prescribed for 22% of children, including antibiotics (15.4%), antidiarrhoeals (1.2%) and anti-emetics (5.5%). Hospitalized children were generally well nourished with minimal dehydration and electrolyte disturbance.

CONCLUSIONS

Oral rehydration therapy is utilized rarely and medications are over-utilized in home management of gastroenteritis. Education of parents, general practitioners and hospital doctors is essential to optimize outpatient management. The impact of optimal outpatient management on hospital admission rates and morbidity requires formal assessment.