Rehydration: role for early use of intravenous dextrose

Acute gastroenteritis is a common reason for children to seek health care. Among the potential complications of acute gastroenteritis, the most common is dehydration. For mild to moderate dehydration, treatment options include oral and intravenous rehydration. Outpatient treatment failure for either method, when it occurs, is often due to persistent nausea and vomiting. Some authorities have suggested that the early administration of dextrose to patients receiving intravenous rehydration may help terminate vomiting and result in fewer outpatient treatment failures. The purpose of this report was to review the evidence supporting the effectiveness of early intravenous dextrose administration in the outpatient management of dehydration in children with acute gastroenteritis.