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Home-based management of children hospitalized with acute gastroenteritis
E V O'Loughlin1, E Notaras, C McCullough
1Department of Paediatrics, John Hunter Hospital, New Lambton Heights, Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia.
Insights
Parents often seek medical advice from family doctors for childhood acute gastroenteritis. However, oral rehydration solution (ORS) use is low, while medications are frequently overprescribed, indicating a need for better home treatment guidance.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Gastroenterology
- Public Health
Background:
- Acute gastroenteritis is a common reason for pediatric hospital admissions.
- Understanding parental medical advice sources and home treatment practices is crucial for optimizing care.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify where parents seek medical advice for children with acute gastroenteritis.
- To analyze home treatment methods used for pediatric acute gastroenteritis before hospital admission.
Main Methods:
- A parent-completed questionnaire was administered to 231 guardians of children admitted with acute gastroenteritis.
- Data collected over a 12-month period.
Main Results:
- Family doctors were the primary source of medical advice.
- Clear fluids were used by two-thirds of families, but oral rehydration solution (ORS) was used by only one-third.
- Medications, including antibiotics, antidiarrheals, antiemetics, and paracetamol, were administered to half of the children.
- Inpatient assessments indicated most children had mild or no dehydration.
Conclusions:
- Oral rehydration therapy (ORT) is underutilized, and medications are overused in managing pediatric acute gastroenteritis at home.
- Family doctors remain the main advisors, suggesting interventions should target both parents and primary care physicians.
- Increased home use of ORS could potentially decrease hospitalization rates.
Objective:
To determine the source of medical advice to parents and treatment administered at home for children admitted to hospital with acute gastroenteritis.
Methodology:
A questionnaire was completed by the parents of 231 children admitted during a 12 month period.
Results:
The majority of children had seen their family doctor or an after-hours doctor prior to admission. Clear fluids were used for two-thirds but an oral rehydration solution (ORS) was used in only one-third of children. Medications were used for half, including antibiotics (19%), antidiarrhoeals (9%), antiemetics (7%) and paracetamol (27%). Inpatient assessment suggested that the majority of children had no or mild dehydration.
Conclusions:
Appropriate oral rehydration is underutilized and medications are overprescribed for the treatment of acute gastroenteritis. Family doctors continue to be the major source of advice for parents. Increased use of ORS at home may reduce hospitalization rates but attempts to change these practices should be directed at parents and family doctors.