Overview of rehydration in children

Rehydration is the most important aspect of managing acute gastroenteritis. All children with gastroenteritis should have their hydration status assessed so that appropriate rehydration can be given—see Assessing children for dehydration.

Management of dehydration in children with gastroenteritis is summarised in Management of dehydration in children with acute gastroenteritis. The aim of rehydration in children with acute gastroenteritis is to replace the fluid deficit, provide the usual maintenance fluid requirement and replace any ongoing losses from diarrhoea or vomiting.

The route of rehydration in children depends on:

Children with minimal or no dehydration should be encouraged to continue eating and drinking as tolerated. In children without risk factors for dehydration, eating and drinking is usually sufficient to replace fluid and electrolyte loss.

Dehydration can often be treated with oral rehydration or nasogastric rehydration. Intravenous rehydration may be required if the degree of dehydration does not improve with oral or nasogastric rehydration, or for severe dehydration (see Assessing clinical features of dehydration in children).

Once rehydrated, the child should return to an age-appropriate unrestricted diet as soon as possible (see Diet and feeding during gastroenteritis). Breastfeeding of infants should continue even during oral rehydration.

Figure 1. Management of dehydration in children with acute gastroenteritis
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