[Approach to acute gastroenteritis in children: comparison over the years]

Diagnostic and therapeutic approach to children admitted because of acute gastroenteritis has been retrospectively evaluated by auditing the hospital records in two periods respectively before (A: 103 patients) and after (B: 133 patients) the use of oral rehydration solution. Incomplete history taking was found out without differences between the two periods; in many cases the weight loss, one of the main criteria for hospitalization in acute diarrhoea, was not recorded at admission. In period B therapeutic behaviour was adequate to literature guidelines as regards both antibiotic prescription and use of oral rehydration solution. Nevertheless even if oral rehydration was carried out in more than 70% of patients, parenteral fluid administration was not significantly reduced in comparison with period A. Oral rehydration solution contributed to reduce the length of hospital stay in the more recent period. The study confirms the usefulness of medical audit to improve quality care.