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Treatment of mild to moderate dehydration in children with oral rehydration therapy
1Parker Internal Medicine, Charlotte, North Carolina 28173, USA. bj-kris_diggins@sil.org
Insights
Oral rehydration therapy (ORT) is effective for mild to moderate dehydration in children. Current pediatric care often favors intravenous (IV) therapy, but ORT offers a more comfortable, home-based alternative aligned with guidelines.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric primary care
- Clinical practice guidelines
Background:
- Dehydration is a frequent diagnosis in pediatric settings.
- Current treatment practices may not align with established guidelines.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the literature on the effectiveness of oral rehydration therapy (ORT) for mild to moderate dehydration in children.
Main Methods:
- Literature review including American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and World Health Organization (WHO) recommendations.
- Analysis of research articles published between 2000-2006 and internet sources.
Main Results:
- ORT is an effective treatment for mild to moderate dehydration in children.
- Intravenous (IV) therapy is often used when ORT would be equally effective.
- Current practices deviate from AAP and WHO guidelines.
Conclusions:
- ORT should be utilized more frequently as an alternative to IV rehydration.
- ORT enhances patient comfort, autonomy, and allows for home-based treatment, reducing hospital stays.
- Implementing ORT aligns with holistic nursing care principles.
Purpose:
To review current literature on the effectiveness of oral rehydration therapy (ORT) in the treatment of mild to moderate dehydration in children.
Data Sources:
Recommendations from American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), World Health Organization (WHO), selected research articles (2000-2006), and Internet sources.
Conclusions:
Dehydration is a common diagnosis in pediatric primary care. The literature indicates that dehydration is more often treated with intravenous (IV) therapy when ORT would be equally effective. ORT is an effective treatment for children with mild to moderate dehydration. ORT could be used more frequently rather than IV rehydration therapy. The use of ORT versus traditional methods of IV hydration matches the nursing philosophy of holistic care by enhancing client comfort and autonomy.
Implications For Practice:
Current practice in the treatment of mild to moderate dehydration in children does not match both AAP and WHO guidelines, which are based on evidence supporting ORT effectiveness. Treatment with ORT allows children more flexibility to be treated at home and thus decreases hospital stay. Evidence shows that the time required to initiate ORT is actually quicker than IV therapy and allows for a less stressful therapy that can be performed in the home.
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